The Backyardigans

YMA recommendation

Approved as non-violent media, with caution. Accidental harm

Most suitable age range:

2-4

Availability

At time of review, screening on Foxtel.

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About the program

Year of production	2004-Ongoing
Rating	G
Consumer advice lines	None
Duration	20 minutes per episode
Country of origin	Canada, USA
Production Company	Nickelodeon Animation Studios & Nelvana Limited

Synopsis

Based in a communal backyard, this series depicts the wild adventures that four very different friends imagine themselves having. Pablo, Uniqua, Tasha and Tyrone use vivid creativity to transform their play area into arctic regions, desert plains and everything in between.

Points to consider

Words of caution

Accidental harm, such as when a horse doesn’t want to cross a river and inadvertently throws Pablo in.
The friends imagine that a bandit is holding a friend hostage and launch a plan to try to rescue him. (There isn't really a bandit.)
In a snow fort Tyrone and Pablo prepare booby-traps to protect a giant snowball. Tasha and Uniqua slip down some stairs when they are switched to an ice ramp. Later they try to scale a wall and fall back into the snow when a block of ice is moved out of position.

Positive aspects

Uses creative thinking to solve problems
The message that you can be and achieve anything you like
Demonstates the importance of imagination
Reinforces the values of friendship, loyalty, helpfulness and determination
Illustrates diversity

Questions to ask

Do you think that it might hurt if you fell into a snow bank after trying to climb up a wall?
Did Uniqua and Tasha do the right thing by trying to tunnel under the fort? Was there another way that they could have found out if anyone needed help?
How could Pablo and Tyrone have protected the giant snowball without resorting to the use of booby traps?