Jo-Jo's Circus

YMA recommendation

	Approved as non-violent media, with caution. Unhealthy eating
Most suitable age range: 2-4

Availability

About the program

Synopsis

Jo-Jo is a young, kind-hearted clown, who lives with her family, friends and pet lion Goliath ‘under the big top’ and experiences the everyday aspects of life as they relate to most children as well as the uniqueness of life in Circus Town.  

Points to consider

Words of caution

• During a trip to a farm Jo-Jo and friends got to see and sample some farm produce including hot dogs and fairy floss plants and a ‘water spout’ that gushes lemonade. Rather than being shown healthy food choices or realistic representations of what grows on a farm children were given an unhealthy interpretation.

Positive aspects

• The show encourages child participation in physical activities and Jo-Jo often stops to clearly demonstrate and encourage children to join in specific exercises. She gives step by step instructions and ample praise.
• The show covers a range of topics and relevant themes for preschoolers such as personal hygiene and safety issues and Jo-Jo is always given the spotlight at the end to recap what she learned.
• The characters use creativity and helpfulness to solve problems and Jo-Jo is great at using interactive skills to engage children in the activities at hand.

Questions to ask

• Do you think that fairy floss grows on plants?
• Are hot dogs a healthy food?
• What kinds of food do you think grows on a farm?
• Parents could take the opportunity to discuss healthy food choices with their children and could even go further to take pictures and classify them based on where they come from (grow on a farm / made in a factory) or whether they could be an everyday food or a sometimes food.