Common Sense Media Review
Needless addition to the animals-with-angst genre.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Timothy Goes to School
What's the Story?
TIMOTHY GOES TO SCHOOL is a simpler, less-charming version of Arthur that in no way does justice to the book (Rosemary Wells' Timothy Tales from Hilltop School) on which it's supposedly based. Timothy himself is a raccoon whose cartoon form never achieves half the expression of the original book creation. His school friends are a largely indistinguishable band of rodents and house pets. The few who stand out do so because they've been given one strong trait (the mouse is shy, the twin dogs dumb) rather than an actual character. Each half-hour program contains two mini-episodes in which Timothy copes with some small social or ethical dilemma.
Is It Any Good?
Watching Timothy Goes to School won't hurt kids, but since it's neither educational nor particularly amusing, they -- and you -- are likely to choose one of the many other options out there. The stories are harmless and mildly entertaining. The problem is that the set up and situations are of a type usually more familiar to older children, while the problems and their resolutions are presented at the simplest and tamest level.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Timothy's mild difficulties and their solutions are simpler than those a child might actually experience at school. For example, when Timothy has to choose between two friends: Don't you think Timothy can be friends with both? Why can't they all play together? Questions about plot shortcomings might also start a good discussion about what makes a story work.
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 30, 2000
- Cast : Austin Di Iulio , Fiona Reid , Laurie Elliott
- Network : Discovery Kids
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
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.
See how we rate