“I’m going to write a blog post about Peppa Pig. How should I even start?,” I asked B while we were out on an errand today.
“Don’t gild the lily. Just say it’s the most awesome show ever made.”
Go ahead and put your hyperbole goggles on ’cause imma bout to spray you with the spittle of truth:
Peppa Pig is the most awesome show ever made.
Cee first started watching Peppa Pig right around the same time that we moved over the summer. Naturally, B and I would watch it with her because we have been told my many people claiming to be experts that if your child watches TV unaccompanied before they turn 18, they will a., grow a tail, b., be at higher risk of experiencing teenage pregnancy, c., kill ants on the playground with a magnifying glass, and d., be doomed to an adulthood of general malaise and possible Walmart employment. What we found when we started watching Peppa with Cee was that it is possibly the best television program to be piped into the living rooms of America since Roots.
Peppa Pig is a British children’s programme (so cultured already) that airs on Nick Jr. It chronicles the life of a four-year-old pig named Peppa and her family, which includes two-year-old brother George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, Granny Pig, and Grandpa Pig. The first thing that you notice when you watch it is that unlike shows like Bob the Builder that originated in the UK but are adapted to American audiences, Peppa Pig remained unchanged after its trip across the pond. Not only does Peppa and her cohorts retain their British accents, but they also use the British terms for everyday items. “Elevator” remains “lift”, “bandage” remains “plaster cast”, “carnivals” are “funfairs,” and “trucks” are “lorries.” It turns out that small American children understand just fine what Peppa is talking about and that they are able to stomach things that are not immediately familiar to them.
I know. Shocker.
The added bonus to your American toddler watching British TV is that s/he starts speaking with a fake accent. Trust me on this one: it is way cuter when a two year old does it than when Madonna does it.
Another thing that we really like about Peppa is that it instills fairly good behavior in C. We can instruct her to say thank-you until we’re blue in the face, but in the grand tradition of television characters raising our children, it’s Peppa who has gotten C to say thank-you. How do we know that Peppa gets the credit? Why, because she says thank you with a British accent, of course.
Every parent has that show that they will admit to watching even when their kids aren’t around. For some, it’s Yo Gabba Gabba with its myriad guest stars and fun music. For others, it’s Adventure Time, which is quirky and offbeat. (For absolutely no parent or sane adult in the entire world, it’s Dora the Explorer.) But for me, it’s Peppa Pig. What is it about Peppa that speaks to me? I think it has something to do with the relative simplicity of the show. It hearkens back to a pared-down, imaginative childhood that is hard to come by in these days where kids get iPads on their first birthdays and are more heavily-scheduled than many adults. Peppa’s favorite thing to do in the entire world is jump up and down in muddle puddles. That’s it. The simple activity of going outside and getting dirty makes her happier than anything else. Similarly, her little brother George is transfixed with his trusty companion Mr. Dinosaur (or, as he says it, Mr. Dine-saw.)
There’s a certain degree of sibling rivalry between Peppa and George that I find refreshing. Have you ever seen these kids shows where siblings actually get along? Who are they trying to kid? But at the end of the day, Peppa and her brother clearly love each other a lot. I’ll take Realistic for $1000, Alex. The fact is that kids roll their eyes at each other. There’s complexity in any relationship, but it all comes down to love. I kind of adore that.
Do you have a show you like to watch when you’re kids aren’t around? Am I the only person who has deep thoughts about an animated pig family? Feel free to let me know/ suggest a therapist in the comments.
♥
This is the seventh installment of National Emily Posts Month (NaEmPoMo). Connect on Facebook and Twitter @thewaitingblog if you just can’t get enough. (Do do do do do do do.)
The Waiting 
My name is Meg (Hi, Meg.) And I watch episodes of My Little Pony when my kids aren’t around. (Thank you for your share, Meg.)
Peppa is a huge hit in our house. Bonus: Toddler Grouch (half greek) watches it in english and greek (did you know peppa pig = peppa sto gourounaki?). We both learn greek words when we watch :)
Mine was Fraggle Rock. You might have to Youtube that one. :)
I’ve never watched it. I will definitely have to check that one out with the kids. My favorite kid show right now, is Daniel Tiger.
This must be a new one since my kids were young. I’ve never heard of it.
All right, I’ll confess, I used to like Clifford the Big Red Dog. I didn’t watch it when the kids weren’t around, but I might have KEPT watching it when they fell asleep during it. ;) (Later, I also liked iCarly. Watched that a couple times by myself when they lost interest…)
I must declare Emily that you aren’t crazy. I haven’t read the literature but I can declare from a student’s perspective that you aren’t crazy. So, you should feel great!
[…] blogging home girl wrote a post all about her watching Pepa Pig ( https://notthehardestpart.com/2014/11/10/peppa-pig-is-my-homegirl/ ) now it is my turn to write a bad rebuttal. Their is nothing wrong with an adult watching a tv […]
“Who what when where why how?” I’m always pushing for BusyTown but it has fallen out of favour at the moment. I’ll tolerate Clone Wars as long as they toss in a Scooby Doo now and then.
I once watched a Jonas Brothers marathon on Disney channel while doing massive amounts of laundry. I was alone in the house. And I’m not ashamed. That sh*t was funny.
I will also watch Phineas and Ferb every day of my life.
I really like Peppa Pig too, and so do the girls I babysit. The backyardigans is one of my favorite kids shows. They handle multiculturalism well and they have real classic music and ballet moves. My friends and I in college also watch a lot of Arthur (in between Jeopardy) which is SO GOOD.
We love Peppa Pig! Our favorite quotes from the show, “Are we nearly there yet? Let’s put a plaster on it! Give me that hammer!” Such a funny show. We want to take a trip to Peppa Pig World in the UK some day.
I love Peppa and her family, too. I read the Peppa stories to Cee in a British accent…..sorta kinda. Guess it runs in the family! :)
Truth: I haaaaaate Peppa Pig. I think it’s how they snort randomly in the middle of talking. I will fes up to watching Bubble Guppies unaccompanied, if only for the lunch puns. I LOVE LUNCH PUNS!
C has been watching quite a lot of Disney cartoons. The old cartoons from the 30s and 40s. When they were, you know, good. Oh, and he’s been watch Frozen on repeat, too. There’s something about Olaf…
Kid shows are not what they used to be (get off my lawn, you darned kids!). There’s nothing on air currently. But Pee Wee’s Playhouse? I will take that. My husband and I used to watch Bump in the Night before we ever thought about becoming parents.
Love Peppa Pig too! Daniel Tiger is also a fave for me and my 3 year old daughter…
I am glad I came across this post because I have been going crazy trying to decide if I should let my 8 month old watch TV.
Uhhhh….my husband watched Adventured Time long before any talk of kids. No kids needed.
We all still watch SpongeBob – does that count?
BTW was there a comparison of Madonna to Peppa Pig snuk in there in a roundabout kind of a way?
Love Peppa Pig. I also like Olivia. And the Berenstain Bears. Pretty much everything on the Spout channel lately. *sigh*
I am a Sesame Street addict myself – I’ll have to check this show out though, sounds awesome!