Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming British series promotes perseverance, friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
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Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 36 parent reviews
Parents say the show is a whimsical and humorous experience that entertains both children and adults, with many enjoying its imaginative storylines and quirky characters. However, it has received criticism for inappropriate language, poor role models, and reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes, leading some to believe it may impart negative social values to young viewers.
- imaginative storytelling
- humorous entertainment
- inappropriate language
- gender stereotypes
- negative social values
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 33 kid reviews
What's the Story?
BEN & HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM follows Princess Holly (voiced by Sian Taylor) and Ben Elf (Preston Nyman), best friends who live in a tiny, quaint kingdom nestled in the grass and thorny brambles and who share all kinds of adventures. Holly, a fairy princess, is learning how to do magic, but she's not very good at it yet and tends to get in trouble when she uses it without thinking. Since elves aren't magical, Ben has to help out by building and fixing things, and he's very good at that. Holly, Ben, and their ladybug friend, Gaston (Taig McNab), always find something to do -- and something to learn -- as they explore the Little Kingdom.
Is It Any Good?
Ben and Holly are a charming duo whose adventures teach kids wonderful lessons about being a good friend, working together, and sticking with a problem until it's solved. It's always refreshing to see a TV show like Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom that favors reality in its content (minus the fairies, elves, and talking critters, that is), showing characters making mistakes, trying to fix them, and sometimes making even bigger messes on the second try. And unlike the characters in many shows, it's not just the kids who aren't perfect. Despite her best intentions, Holly's nanny in particular has her share of snafus, which gives the characters many opportunities to test their perseverance. Even better, the fact that Holly is magical and Ben is a fixer doesn't cause envy or other bad feelings; instead, it provides opportunities for them to combine their talents for common goals.
Set in a world where everything is tiny and beautifully detailed, Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom is likely to appeal to preschoolers' sense of make-believe with animation that looks like it was taken right out of a picture book. Kids will love the visual effect, and the content is so enjoyable that parents may get pulled in, too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters in Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom solve problems. What special skills does each one bring to the group effort? Could magic alone have done the job? How might you have handled it differently?
What makes Holly and Ben such good friends? Does the fact that they're so different ever complicate matters? What do you and your friends like to do together?
Kids: Do you like the illustrations in this show? What other objects would you like to see as part of Ben and Holly's world? If you could choose to be tiny or gigantic for a day, which would you pick, and why?
How do the characters in Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom demonstrate perseverance, teamwork, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 5, 2015
- Cast : Sian Taylor , Preston Nyman , Sarah Ann Kennedy
- Network : Nick Jr.
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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