Booh-Bah!

Ok, we love Booh-Bah at our house.  For those of you who haven't seen it, or who have only seen snippets of the show, it may seem odd.  Downright creepy to some.  But it really is a great show.  The first time my sister told me about it, she said "I think that someone has cracked into the inner psyche of toddlers and figured out how to mesmerize them, they're just not telling us."  She said that when Booh-Bah comes on PBS in the mornings, Jake and Zoe stand right up to the TV and just stare.  Sometimes they don't move. "Dude, it's like crack for babies," she told me.  I was fascinated and curious, so I bought a video at Target.  The first time I watched it, I was thinking "o-k, this is weird."  But the longer you watch it, the cooler it gets.  The colors and odd music are oddly peaceful -- you can't look away.  The story people are hilarious to a 2 year old.  Jake loves the colors the most.  And he loves when the dog runs across the screen. 

The best part of Booh-bah?  It will keep your child's attention for 20 minutes so you can get stuff done.  There are those who will think I'm horrible for saying this, but hear me out.  I know we shouldn't let T.V. baby-sit our children, kids today watch too much T.V., blah blah blah, but hell, if you need to cook dinner and you are home ALONE with your children, do you really want them underfoot in the kitchen?  Or do you want them enjoying themselves safely in the living room?

Actually when we watch Booh-Bah the most is at night when I'm trying to get Jake to calm down so he's ready for bed.  We turn out all the lights and turn it on -- he lays next to me on the couch but always climbs up in my lap and wants to comment on what's happening.  He tells me what color Booh-Bah is in front of the other ones, he names simple objects he sees, he sings the odd little cadence . . . we have a good time.  Last night Priscilla bought him a huge orange Booh-Bah at W that was originally $30 and marked down to $5 -- she doesn't really like BB but she knows how much Jake likes it and Elauna is starting to like it (and who can pass up a sale like that?).  I think she'll eventually come around to it.  She also got him a small pink BB since she knows the pink one is his favorite.  (Hell, if my child likes the color pink I will let him.  It's a good color and he doesn't know he's not supposed to like it.  The other day I asked him if his favorite number was 9 and he said "No, Pink."  ha ha ha.)

If you want to know more about Booh-Bah before letting your child watch it:

From the website http://www.boohbah.tv/ under parent information it says:

ABOUT BOOHBAH

Boohbah is an exciting new programme for children, with a format that fosters both creative thinking and creative movement. Boohbah is entirely designed to encourage physical action on the part of its young viewers. It deliberately combines infectious magical movement, for children to imitate, with inset stories for them to predict outcomes.

The design of the show - visually and otherwise, draws upon early concepts in science, maths and art and combines these with ‘televisual magic’ to create a uniquely funny television experience.

The Boohbahs, five magical atoms of power, light and fun travel in their Boohball around the world, from child to child. Fifteen countries are visited throughout the changing title sequence.

The Boohbahs represent the imaginative power and light which allows children to control the screen action by the use of the magic word “Boohbah”, and send presents into an imaginary Storyworld for the Storypeople - Grandmamma, Grandpappa, Mrs Lady, Mr Man, Brother and Sister, Auntie and Little Dog Fido to play with and make a story in partnership with them. We hear the children intervening in the screen action by the sound of their blowing and their use of the word “Boohbah”. This motivates the action and moves the story along. Only Little Dog Fido is not wholly in their control! Children are totally engaged and have a lot of fun guessing which Storyperson will appear and what will happen next.

and http://slate.msn.com/id/2094649/ is a funny article kind of slamming it, but it gives you another point of view about the whole thing.

Comments

[Sue]

I've never seen Booh-Bah but when I clicked on your entry, Ryan was beside me and yelled 'Booh-Bah!!' He was very excited to see the pics, he tells me he watches it at his daycare. OK, today I must search out one of the videos for him, he seems mesmerised! Ha. Thanks Jen :)

[Jenni]

I am seriously scared of these things, but if YOU say it's a cool show then I'll believe you. Maxx loves these things also. I almost had to buy him one but instead we ended up with a Yoda doll thats sort of like a magic eight ball. Maxx calls him "soda". Maybe I'll head back to Target and buy one since they're so cheap!

Jenni

[Territoon]

My 18 month old (also named Jake) loves Boobahs. To me they resemble a part of the male anatomy. Hubby's now has the affectionate name of Boobah!!

PS.. Great stickers. I'm using a couple of them and have them linked back to you. Thanks!!

[Sandi P.]

I'm not familiar with these animated characters, but they sort of remind me of the infamous "Teletubbies" of my youngest son's age. Whatever works for a few moments of peace, right?

Hope you enjoyed your day off today. Have a good week!

[Jen_Jake'smom]

The comments to this post have been closed, due to people with no lives leaving inappropriate messages. Grow up, people.

jen