Cbeebies Is Being Axed?

I cannot believe what I heard at the weekend, I actually did a double take and asked my friend to repeat it as I thought I must have misheard. The BBC are considering getting rid of Cbeebies, I cannot actually believe it. If it had been April I would have thought it was an April Fool’s joke but no, it is September and it is very much a reality.

There are plenty of people out there who think that TV is bad for kids, that they should be running around outside or reading a book rather than sitting glued to the TV watching In The Night Garden or some other crazy program thought up by someone who had too many vodkas one night!

I am a mother of two, I am also a teacher. I think before I had children I promised myself that I wouldn’t let my kids watch TV, that they would be model students and spend their days doing crafts, using an easel and playing with carefully constructed small world toys. Then I had kids..

I think Little G was 3 months old when I first gave in, I turned on Cbeebies and she loved it. I was able to get work done- I loved it! I told myself that she would always be allowed to watch TV unless it got to the point that she would choose it over playing outdoors on a sunny day. That is still a rule I live by today actually and it has always worked well.

Little G is a highly intelligent little girl and I actually believe that Cbeebies has been a part of the process to getting her to that point. It is not a trashy kids channel that offers no benefit to children. It is in fact jam packed with educational programs that encourage a love of learning. I would encourage any parent to let their child watch it over other kids channels and am really sad that it may be lost!

One of Little G’s favourite programs is Mr Bloom’s Nursery, he helped encourage a love of gardening and she knew vegetable names that I would never have thought to teach her.

Numtums taught her how to count in order to 10.

I Can Cook had us making various recipes, so easy for little people to make! I have used many of those recipes with my class too!

Get Squiggling! Letters sparked an interest in letters and how they are written.

Alphablocks continued that thread and got her sounding out words- at 3 years old she is able to read and write.

Mister Maker has encouraged me as a parent to get the crafting materials out and get making with my girls.

One of my personal favourites is Show Me, Show Me. I love the story telling using household props, speaking imagination in parents as well as their kids.

Something that is seasonal but was a huge hit was Stargazing. I have never seen a child sit so still, completely entranced by a program!

And lastly, perhaps the one that we will all agree is the weirdest yet most important program for our little ones. The one that gets them ready for bed, calms them down and has them smiling from ear to ear- In The night Garden.

Little G has been watching Cbeebies for almost 4 years and rather than be something that holds her back or keeps her from playing outside, it is actually something that enhances her education. She loves the outdoors, she loves to craft, she can read, she can count to 100 and has a fantastic education. Their programs have helped develop those skills and she is now leaning towards CBBC to continue her learning journey.

Little G has been taught so much and LJ is just starting on that journey now. I really hope the BBC change their minds.

Why would you get rid of a channel that offers so much?