Are you looking for a good children’s TV show to watch with the grandkids when they visit?
We are starting a new series here at Grandmother Hen where we will review one children’s TV show and one children’s movie or video per month. We’ll let you know what’s worth watching and what you can skip.
For the first in this series of reviews, we begin with my own grandkids favorite television show:
Sarah & Duck is a sweet British TV cartoon for little ones about a young girl (Sarah), her pet duck and their simple adventures. A narrator not only helps tell their stories but also interacts with the characters to help them along the way.
Sarah and her pet duck are curious and playful, often sparking a short neighborhood outing or game from an otherwise ordinary day. A rainy day leads them to an art store, a sad-looking donkey prompts a trip to the library to learn more about the animal, and a pesky Internet connection sends them outside to recreate what they were watching—tennis doubles.
Other characters Sarah and Duck meet along the way are Scarf Lady, the moon and four talking shallots. The writing is clever and the animation is simplistic with cheerful colors.
Though not specifically educational, it offers little moments of object, color or shape recognition within the storyline. In one episode, Sarah finds a red umbrella to match her favorite red crayon. In another, she and Duck must find their favorite park bench which is near “something round.”
The target audience is age four to six, although it works for younger ones as well. My son is nearly three and loves to mimic the things Sarah says. I love that I am equally amused by this little show (in other words, it isn’t annoying!). In fact, I’ve become quite fond of Sarah & Duck (Quack!).
Episodes are short—less than 10 minutes each. Perfect for occupying the grandkids while you prepare a snack or, let’s be real, visit the restroom . . . alone.
If you are looking for a cute and short TV show, this is for you.
Sarah & Duck airs on the Sprout channel. Check out clips on Sprout Online.
S.M. Hutchins is mom to a curious toddler and full-time stepmom to a teenager. She is a writer and copyeditor perpetually seeking the mystery, magic and wonder in everyday life. See more from S.M. Hutchins at www.livewonderstruck.com.