The Upside Down Show

YMA recommendation

Approved as non-violent media

Most suitable age range:

2-4 (older children may also enjoy this program)

Availability

At time of review, screening on Foxtel.

Many items on the list of non-violent media may be available for either purchase or hire. Click here for some ideas of where to look for them.

About the program

Year of production	2006-ongoing
Classification advice
Rating	G
Consumer advice lines	None
Duration	25 minutes

Other information
Country of origin	Australia
Production Company	Blink Films Pty. Ltd.

Synopsis

Shane and David are brothers whose movements and actions the viewer can help control with the touch of a button on an imaginary remote control. The doors of their home lead to a variety of different places which change after each episode as they learn about the world around them and experience places like the beach and the museum for the first time.

Points to consider

Words of caution

None

Positive aspects

The show portrays the child as an expert and often children are incorporated to impart their wisdom on subjects such as dogs and finger painting. The child, from the moment the show begins, is “in control”. The child (viewer) is the one holding the remote control which can help or hinder Shane and David and their movements. The brothers play into this in a humorous way that both children and adults will be drawn to.
Shane and David model creative thinking and problem –solving skills and can often be seen using imaginative play or thinking ‘outside the box’.
The show promotes language development and early literacy skills through extending children’s vocabulary, defining a new word and repeating it in various ways throughout the show.
Cognitive skills are reinforced, such as making predictions and noticing connections.
Shane and David are encouraged to use manners and are both polite and supportive of each other. The brothers model cooperation and negotiation skills while demonstrating the joy of experiencing something for the first time and an enthusiasm for life in general.

Questions to ask

Children could try doing some finger painting themselves, visit a museum, or another activity related to something they had seen on the show.
Parents could help their children create their own remote control to go along with the show, making buttons featured in the different episodes, such as the “inside” button or the “rotate” button, as well as inventing their own buttons and their own uses for them.