Hey Arnold!
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The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Hey Arnold! is a '90s cartoon filled with zany situations, but the characters' responses to them hold some good messages for kids about creative thinking and solving problems. Overall the quirky characters comprise a likable bunch, and in particular, laid-back Arnold will strike parents as the kind of kid they'd like their own youngsters to befriend. There is some bullying from a loud, overbearing girl, who picks on all of her peers but singles out Arnold for the worst of it to hide her crush on him. Her iffy behavior is a notable hiccup in an otherwise fun cartoon for kids. Expect some mild playground language ("freakin'," "crap," and names like "dork" and "geek") among the classmates to be the worst of the content.
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The best Nicktoon around!
What's the story?
HEY ARNOLD! centers on the everyday life of a fourth-grader named Arnold (voiced by Phillip Van Dyke) who has his share of ups and downs in his big-city life. He lives in a boarding house run by his grandparents, and between their assortment of quirky residents and his array of equally unique classmates, Arnold never wants for adventure. Often he and his peers -- including his best buddy, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), and his social nemesis and secret admirer, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) -- find themselves in sticky situations, and it's Arnold's level head that typically saves the day.
Is it any good?
This show fits right in with the colorful array of cartoon characters who grace the TV screen these days, and kids will be drawn to the off-beat personalities among the cast. Hey Arnold!'s unique artistic style, which gives its characters football-shaped heads, foot-tall Afros, and other exaggerated features, is an enticing blend of oddities that make for a fun visual experience to accompany the stories.
As protagonists go, you won't find one much more appealing than Arnold, who's a loyal friend and a thoughtful problem solver, and who always tries to find the best in everyone. Even when life gets him down, he bounces back to make things right, and his mellow approach to life and adversity is a welcome change to the near-hysterical characters in many kids' shows. The show itself is well written, with simple stories that make valuable points and send good messages to kids.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Arnold and his friends handle the situations they get into in Hey Arnold!. Do they respond the way you would in a similar predicament? How does their big-city lifestyle compare to yours? How does a person's environment affect how he or she grows up?
Kids: Is Arnold a good role model? What are some of his positive qualities? Do any of your friends remind you of him?
What defines bullying? What are some different means of bullying others? Do you ever see any of this behavior among your peers? What rules does your school or community have about bullying?
How do the characters in Hey Arnold! demonstrate compassion and integrity? Why are those important character strengths?
TV details
- Premiere date: October 7, 1996
- Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Francesca Marie Smith, Jamil Walker Smith
- Networks: Nickelodeon, Nicktoons
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models
- Character strengths: Compassion, Integrity
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
Character Strengths
Themes & Topics
For kids who love '90s cartoons
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.