Mothers, Lock Up Your Children! The “ANTI-STEVE” is Here!
Written: Nov 02 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: teaches basic problem solving skills
Cons: Steve
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| MumMumMum's Full Review: Blue's Clues |
I know, I know!! Blue’s Clues is one of the most popular children’s shows out there in kiddieland right now. I know you parents like it, I know you kids like it. Well, I don’t! If I have to suffer through watching the incompetent Steve attempting to solve another “Blue’s Clues” I just don’t know what I will do!
For those of you living under a rock who don’t know what Blue’s Clues is, let me enlighten you. (I must say, I envy your rock residences right now, I certainly wish I didn’t know anything about Blue’s Clues!) Blue’s Clues is a half hour children’s program. The cast is Steve, a real person, who lives in a cartoon house with a host of cartoon characters: Blue (a blue dog), Mr. and Mrs. Salt and Pepper, Pail and Shovel, Slippery Soap, and Tickety Tock. Oh, and we mustn’t forget Mailbox and Side Table Drawer! They also have a friend named Magenta (you guessed it! A purple dog!).
Steve is quite fashion challenged, he appears to only own one monochromatic green striped shirt and a pair of brown khakis…and I thought my husband had a limited wardrobe! He is also incredibly inept! Steve’s task each day is to solve the “Clues” that Blue leaves behind. These clues are blue paw prints. When Steve finds one, which he very rarely does without massive amounts of help from the children in the background, he writes it down in his “Handy Dandy Notebook”. There are three clues to be found, and when the search is over Steve sits in the “Thinking Chair” and tries to decipher what Blue is trying to tell him. I must say, this is no easy task for Steve.
Steve seems to have an extremely difficult time listening and I also think that perhaps he may require an eyesight exam, as he seems to never be able to see the Clues. When the children’s voices on the show call out “A clue, a clue!” he has a terrible time understanding what they’re saying. He will respond with comments such as “Yes, it is quite cold today”, or “A shoe? Yes, I’m wearing shoes.” It really can be quite a frustrating experience watching this program.
The show does have redeeming qualities. It does teach very basic matching concepts, problem solving skills, and co-operation. You have to really help Steve along in his search for the clues and the answers to the problems posed to him each day. I consider the animation to be fun, the cartoon characters are quite enjoyable, and the basic premise can be quite educational for very small children. It's not really the program itself that I find difficult to watch, it's just soooo painful watching Steve try to solve the clues. I do find the marketing to be quite excessive though. You can’t go into a department store without being accosted by “Blue’s Clues” toys, games, bath accessories, and yes, even monochromatic green striped shirts.
All in all, I think it’s a good show for small children aged one to two to watch, if you can manage to force yourself to watch it with them! Any older than two and the attraction wears off quickly. My daughter at age three was watching the program, put her hands on her hips, shook her head with disgust, and walked away muttering “That Steve sure doesn’t listen well!” She really has had no interest in the program since, although my two year old daughter does still enjoy it.
Now, if they could just get Steve a new wardrobe, glasses and a hearing aid!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
MumMumMum
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Beverley
Location: Canada
Reviews written: 290
Trusted by: 419 members
About Me:
So good to be home, but so very tired!
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