I will admit that watchingthis as an adult can be a tad frustrating. Some of the lessons I thought missed themark and there could have been a better solution for example:
In the episode where they make "Easy Peasy Pasta", why is Bing's toddler logic placated to when he refused to eat it "all mixed up"? Why after all that rigmaroll of making lunch is this being entertained without at least encouraging him to taste it?! Instead he is given a spoon to "unmix" his lunch before he's even tried it. The takeaway lesson was "people like food different ways" but was worded "you can have your lunch any way you like". Bad lesson. Imagine your previously well eating toddler watches that and starts getting fussy cuz Bing said it was ok.
The infamous "Swing" episode is the target of much parental rage and angst. There was a famous thread on mumsnet where Pando was called a not so nice word. The main beef with it was Padget enabled her charge to take the mickey, and at no point was Pando reined in and told this was not fair by either Flop or Padget. He was to count to 10 and swap with Bing to make it fair, but of course was pulling every trick to make his turn longer. Pando tends to be a bit of wind up merchant, and his carer Padget barely has a handle on him at the best of times. The episode cones to a climax when Bing, finally fed up with all of it, and neither adult doing anything to stop Pando, runs out in front of the swing. Of course a big crash happens, and then Bing gets told off for his running out, but at no point is it acknowledged that Pando was the main instigator in this action. Nobody says "And you should have been more fair Pando, and not wound Bing up with your silly counting" just "Oh Bing, why did you run in front?" BECAUSE YOU DIDNT INTERVENE SOONER!!
This is a big issue I've got personally, but its obvs done for the lesson, but the carers very often wait until there are tears or conflict before intervening in a squabble between their charges.
Amma, the elephant carer for Sula seems less prone to this, and seems a very capable child carer (and funnily enough her charge Sula is the least irritating) , but very often Flop will offer up a "hey now now" or "tut tut" barely above a whisper that the squabbling children obviously did not hear while shouting at each other, and god knows Padget is completely clueless and permissive, and is never really left alone with the children (aside from Pando) for any amount of time like Flop and Amma.
Also the dynamic of the show can be very confusing for people. There are two species in this world. There are Bing and his friends which are anthropomorphic animals, then there are "adults" which are tiny woolen toys. Not every toy has an animal charge to care for, and there only appear to be a few child animals in the whole town. Another confusing bit was that for much of the Shows run, the older girl Coco didnt appear to have a named carer. In later seasons we learn the red one with a bun (seen caring for Coco and Charlie in the intro) is called Molly and she works as a Doctor. A bit of a wierd oversight that we never saw her carer for years or even where she lived. Coco seems to merely exist for the purpose of being a bit of a know it all older child.
For all its flaws, my daughter seems not to mind and loves the characters. Theres nothing violent or dusturbing as can tend to happen with some kid programs. They were very careful to make a compassionate show with nothing that could potentially traumatize your kid. It keeps my daughter entertained so I can get 15 minutes to drink a brew or keeps her quiet while I do some much needed chores or Im running on empty and just need her to not need entertained by me for awhile. So for that it gets some credit.
In the episode where they make "Easy Peasy Pasta", why is Bing's toddler logic placated to when he refused to eat it "all mixed up"? Why after all that rigmaroll of making lunch is this being entertained without at least encouraging him to taste it?! Instead he is given a spoon to "unmix" his lunch before he's even tried it. The takeaway lesson was "people like food different ways" but was worded "you can have your lunch any way you like". Bad lesson. Imagine your previously well eating toddler watches that and starts getting fussy cuz Bing said it was ok.
The infamous "Swing" episode is the target of much parental rage and angst. There was a famous thread on mumsnet where Pando was called a not so nice word. The main beef with it was Padget enabled her charge to take the mickey, and at no point was Pando reined in and told this was not fair by either Flop or Padget. He was to count to 10 and swap with Bing to make it fair, but of course was pulling every trick to make his turn longer. Pando tends to be a bit of wind up merchant, and his carer Padget barely has a handle on him at the best of times. The episode cones to a climax when Bing, finally fed up with all of it, and neither adult doing anything to stop Pando, runs out in front of the swing. Of course a big crash happens, and then Bing gets told off for his running out, but at no point is it acknowledged that Pando was the main instigator in this action. Nobody says "And you should have been more fair Pando, and not wound Bing up with your silly counting" just "Oh Bing, why did you run in front?" BECAUSE YOU DIDNT INTERVENE SOONER!!
This is a big issue I've got personally, but its obvs done for the lesson, but the carers very often wait until there are tears or conflict before intervening in a squabble between their charges.
Amma, the elephant carer for Sula seems less prone to this, and seems a very capable child carer (and funnily enough her charge Sula is the least irritating) , but very often Flop will offer up a "hey now now" or "tut tut" barely above a whisper that the squabbling children obviously did not hear while shouting at each other, and god knows Padget is completely clueless and permissive, and is never really left alone with the children (aside from Pando) for any amount of time like Flop and Amma.
Also the dynamic of the show can be very confusing for people. There are two species in this world. There are Bing and his friends which are anthropomorphic animals, then there are "adults" which are tiny woolen toys. Not every toy has an animal charge to care for, and there only appear to be a few child animals in the whole town. Another confusing bit was that for much of the Shows run, the older girl Coco didnt appear to have a named carer. In later seasons we learn the red one with a bun (seen caring for Coco and Charlie in the intro) is called Molly and she works as a Doctor. A bit of a wierd oversight that we never saw her carer for years or even where she lived. Coco seems to merely exist for the purpose of being a bit of a know it all older child.
For all its flaws, my daughter seems not to mind and loves the characters. Theres nothing violent or dusturbing as can tend to happen with some kid programs. They were very careful to make a compassionate show with nothing that could potentially traumatize your kid. It keeps my daughter entertained so I can get 15 minutes to drink a brew or keeps her quiet while I do some much needed chores or Im running on empty and just need her to not need entertained by me for awhile. So for that it gets some credit.