Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animal friends find melodious, kid-friendly adventures.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
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The Backyardigans
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Based on 40 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a beloved classic that captivates young audiences with its imaginative adventures and catchy songs, making it a nostalgic favorite for many adults. However, some viewers find the content too simplistic or babyish for older children, while others appreciate its educational value in fostering creativity and imagination.
- imaginative adventures
- catchy songs
- nostalgia factor
- educational content
- appropriate for young children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE BACKYARDIGANS is set in the neighborhood of its five main animal characters: Austin (voiced by Jonah Bobo), Pablo (Jake Goldberg), Uniqua (LaShawn Jeffries), Tasha (Gianna Bruzzesse), and Tyrone (Chris Grant, Jr.). Each story begins with the friends at play in one of their backyards, which evolves into an imagined setting for an epic adventure. Recent episodes have transported the Backyardigans to ancient Egypt, the underwater city of Atlantis, the Canadian frontier, and the vastness of outer space, where they must tackle some sort of problem and fend off enemies both familiar and unfamiliar. When the dust settles, it's back to real life as kids in their neighborhood.
Is It Any Good?
This vibrant preschool series has won over fans of all ages with its endearing stories and fantastic incorporation of music and dance. Each episode plays out like a mini-musical with a handful of unique songs interspersed throughout the day's story. Because they're acted out by the Backyardigans themselves, kids can easily make the distinction between what's real (at least for the characters) and what's make-believe, and this can translate to new inspiration for their own imaginative play.
As the stories evolve, kids also see other positive qualities demonstrated through the characters, such as conflict resolution, effective communication, and creative problem-solving. And because their settings are constantly changing and the show pays close attention to how it portrays different places and cultures, there's also an appealing educational element to the stories. The bottom line? It's not always easy to find a show you like as much as your youngsters do, but The Backyardigans definitely has the potential to fit that bill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Backyardigans' many adventures. What places and/or time periods did they visit? How were their surroundings different there? What problems arose for them? How did they solve them?
Kids: In what ways can differences between friends be a good thing? What are some traits you really admire in your friends?
Parents can use the premise of this show to encourage imaginative play with their kids. Pretend you're visiting another place or time, and draw pictures of what you and your surroundings might look like. What sights would you see? What kinds of food would be customary?
How do the characters on The Backyardigans demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 11, 2004
- Cast : Jonah Bobo , Jordan Coleman , Zach Tyler
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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