Blue's Clues: One Of Life's Great Addictions
Written: Sep 21 '01 (Updated Sep 21 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: educational, cute,
Cons: addictive, might find your kids (whatever age) shouting at the screen
The Bottom Line: A children's show that is not only worth watching, but slightly addictive too.
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| fallyn96's Full Review: Blue's Clues |
When I first entered college, there were tons of orientation activities that we all had to go to. The one on my dorm floor consisted of going over the rules, and playing a get to know you game. Each girl was supposed to write three things down on an index card- two truths, and one lie. The rest of the group was then supposed to guess which one was the lie.
Most of the 'facts' brought up consisted of hobbies, favorite TV shows, and majors or minors. My three, in no particular order, consisted of 'I can develop a roll of film without using Wal-mart photo centers.' 'I'm majoring in Math.' and 'I'm addicted to children's TV.'
Funny, most of the girls said that the last was my lie. Really, though, I wasn't a math major, and pardon my language here, but I suck at math. So, yes it's true. I can develop a roll of film, and I am addicted to children's television.
It All Started With Sesame Street
I know when this addiction started. I remember it quite clearly. I'd be home sick, and my mom would have me laid up in her bed, all comfy with pillows galore around me, a blanket tucked just right, and a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches, should I get hungry. Oh, and her television would be tuned to PBS. I'd watch Sesame Street, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, and whatever else came on after that. I was hooked. There I was, an eight year old junkie needing her 'Sesame Street' fix.
I grew up. The same scenario would repeat itself from time to time, with small variations on the where, but not too much on the what- at least, what was on the television. I could be in the living room, tucked into the couch, or later when I had my own television in my room, tucked into my own bed. It got so bad, that eventually, I was fixing when I wasn't sick. Oh, I had it bad. I was so hooked!
I began to broaden my horizons, so to speak. I started watching Nick Jr. Then there came the Disney Channel. There were times that I tried to go cold turkey- but it just wasn't happening. I had to have my children's TV fix!
What Am I Watching?
I think that my lowest point of all came the day I discovered Blue's Clues. I was sitting in my dorm room, quietly munching on some chicken nuggets, trying my best to study for class. Ten minutes after opening my Nutrition book, I closed it. After all, it's kind of hard to concentrate on Nutrition when you're sitting there munching on greasy chicken nuggets from the dorm cafeteria!
So I turn the televison on, and head straight for Nick Jr, thinking that I might watch some Little Bear, or whatever is on there before my room mate got back from class. To my horror, Little Bear wasn't on. No- what I was watching was some guy in a hideous green striped shirt, prance around in front of a blue screen, pretending to talk to a dog named Blue.
But really, at this point I didn't care where my fix came from, as long as I got it. So I watched the show. It wasn't long before I figured out what was going on in the show- Steve, the guy in the shirt, is trying to find paw prints, or clues, that were left by Blue. The idea is to get kids to particpate in the show, and eventually I found myself calling out the clues (quietly, so no one would hear me yelling 'A Clue! A Clue!'), and really getting into this show.
After only a week of watching this show, I was hooked. I made it a point to be home whenever it was on (although this wasn't hard- I had a two hour break between classes, and Blue's Clues fell smack dab in the middle of it). I'd come home, hit the caff before heading up to my room, to eat lunch and pretend to study while the show was on. But I didn't know how hooked I was, until my room mate came home from class early one day- and caught me in the act.
I can see it like it was yesterday. There I was, take out container of chicken nuggets on the floor, my Nutrition book ignored on my bed, and me staring raptly at the television. I tried to play it cool- tried to explain that I was just flipping through the channels when I gave up, you know, background noise and all that. Then I explained the show, and she watched it with me.
Luckily, she was just as hooked on children's shows as I was. Soon, we were those freaks in room 211 who rushed home from class every morning just to watch a children's show. What really makes us bad, is that this show is repeated five days a week- the same episode! Why? Because toddlers and preschoolers learn best from repetition! This made it great for us college kids who wanted to watch the show, but missed Monday's first showing- we could watch it new on Tuesday morning.
What Is It About The Show?
There's just something catchy about this show. Blue is the cute adorable little puppy. She's also opinionated. I'm serious- she wants to do what she wants, and she won't tell Steve about it. He has to guess. At least she makes an attempt to help him by leaving 'clues' all over the house. Blue is helped along by various friends- Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Baby Paprika, Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Shovel and Pail, Mailbox, the list goes on.
Blue's Clues is an animated show, but Steve, Blue's owner, or father, or whatever you want to call him, is a real live human being, prancing around on either a blue or green screen. Much like a child's coloring book, Steve's house is void of as much detail as possible. Oh sure, he has his Thinking Chair, a toy box, refridgerator, but the items are out of proportion, and drawn very simply. The colors are bright and vivid, making this show seem more and more like a coloring book.
Blue's Clues is an educational show. It teaches problem solving. Each episode consists of a problem- Blue wants to do something, and Steve has to figure it out. He's only given three clues, and he has to look for them. When he finds one, he draws a picture of it in his little handy dandy notebook, and moves on to find the next clue. When he finds all three clues, he sits in his Thinking Chair, and tries to figure out what the puppy wants to do.
In between clues, there are other problems that need to be solved. Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper may be trying to sort groceries by color. Or Shovel and Pail are trying to find something hidden in the grass. Whatever the problem, Steve is right there to help them solve it. What's best, is that this show encourages active participation on the part of those watching. They are encouraged to yell out 'A Clue! A Clue!' when Steve is near a clue (he never sees it first, of course), and they are also encouraged to help out with the smaller problems of the other characters.
The music is catchy too. I don't know how many times I've found myself singing the mail song in a day. It really gets you some funny looks. The songs are great ways for the show to divide itself into different segments, such as mail time, skidoo, and even the final segment where Steve figures out the clues.
Final Thoughts
It's been a few years since those hazy dorm room days of secretly watching Blue's Clues. But I have one thing to admit- I still watch when I can. At least this time, I have an excuse.
Recommended:
Yes
Type of Program: Educational
Program Quality: Entertaining, but not intellectually or emotionally engaging
Best Suited For: Whole Family
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fallyn96
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Member: Tracey
Location: Illinois
Reviews written: 263
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About Me:
Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.
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