Parents' Guide to

The WotWots

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Friendly aliens encourage preschoolers' curiosity.

TV Discovery Family Channel Kids' Animation 2010
The WotWots Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Yourmomm
Yourmomm Adult
November 27, 2015
age 2+

Oh for heaven's sake

Yes they speak with a silly language, which my kids love. Yes, there is no deep and meaningful message, or ethical quandries for the characters, from which they can learn and grow. And yes, we seem to very serious about our kids just having some fun. The two characters (brother and sister aliens) are cute, happy, and extremely good-natured. If you really think everything your child does should be educational, you could argue that they model wonderful social/cooperative sibling behaviour with each other, and how to have FUN. The programme is a delight for my kids. And we ALL enjoy (kids and adults alike) laughing and repeating the language back at the screen together. The kids think it's a riot. And LAUGH. Especially when we join in with the language. And, as an adult, i can watch the wot wots with my kids again and again, and it's ok: the programme doesn't bother me with repetition, and my kids reactions to it, are ALWAYS priceless. So yep. Lighten up a bit. Learning to have fun is the most important lesson our kids can ever get...
FowlerFan
FowlerFan Parent of baby, 3, 5 and 5-year-old
May 5, 2012
age 2+

Language Issue Too Much

I can't get past the language they use. I have a real issue with shows that use "made up languages". I don't want my kids imitating how they speak - I don't let them watch it. Maybe for a 1 year old who can't talk or a 10 year old who can :)
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE WOTWOTS is a preschool series from New Zealand that centers on two aliens -- DottyWot (voiced by Nathalie Boltt) and SpottyWot (Martin Baynton) -- who arrive on Earth in a steam-powered spaceship and explore the zoo where they've landed. The WotWots peer through a periscope called the "Sneak-a-Peek" into the world around them and use clues to identify the animals they see.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This series is narrated by creator Martin Baynton, who interacts with the WotWots from off screen and translates their toddler-like babbling for the audience. The show pairs their computer-animated puppets with live-action scenes of animals and zoo settings, making the content more realistic and relatable for its young viewers.

Preschoolers will learn about a variety of zoo animals, but the show's better selling point is its focus on rewarding kids' curiosity about the world around them. The characters' language shortcomings might be distracting for older viewers and certainly don't help kids' vocabulary development, but otherwise the bright, friendly characters are fun for preschoolers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about animals. Kids: What's your favorite animal? How do animals provide us with companionship or services? What's involved in caring for animals?

  • Kids: Did you like the characters in this preschool show? How do they compare to some of your other favorites? Did you find their language distracting? What gestures or other clues did they give to help you understand what they were saying?

  • What are some places you'd like to explore? How would you get there? What tools would you need? How would you identify the places and things around you?

TV Details

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