Parenting

Why I love Peppa Pig

May 28, 2015

I bought our family’s first Peppa Pig DVD on holiday in Spain when Juan and I were looking for Spanish-language materials to bring home to the UK (we are trying to bring Oscar up as bi-lingual so that he can communicate properly with the Spanish side of the family in the future). It was the only series I recognised, and although I knew it was popular, I fully expected it to be one of those typically irritating and nauseating kids’ TV programmes. However, when Oscar and I watch Peppa Pig together, it’s me who never wants to switch off. In a way, it reminds me of my own childhood: especially in terms of how small events such as thunderstorms, washing the car, buying new shoes, or even getting hiccups could bring significance to the day.

Why I love Peppa Pig | Everyday30.com

I like the wry humour that runs through the episodes – in Gym Class, for instance, when Peppa and her schoolfriends walk through the adults’ gym to get to their class and the narrator, deadpan, refers to how much fun the (grim-faced) parents are having; or in My Birthday Party, when Daddy Pig performs the lamest magic tricks ever. I love the animation, which appears simplistic but packs in an awful lot of detail, capturing the lumpen manner in which Peppa and her friends dance for Madame Gazelle in Ballet Lesson, the exact way clay can spin out of control on a potter’s wheel when shaped by an amateur (Pottery), and the awkwardness felt by shy Rebecca Rabbit, who blushes whenever anyone asks her a question.

It helps that the Spanish version does not have the class indicators of the original – I was quite surprised by how posh Peppa and co are in English the first time I heard them – and that they speak more quickly when dubbed into Spanish. But I still love the English original, and here’s why I think Peppa Pig fully deserves her success:

Childhood is fun…

These little pigs, living their idealised small-town life where everyone knows and values each other and the sun always shines, should make us want to hurl. However, most of the time I just feel nostalgic for that period in life when the days are all about having fun, you’re constantly learning new things, and the only responsibilities you have are to eat all your dinner, be nice to each other, and keep your room tidy. In reality, it may be a rose-tinted view of the world, but shouldn’t everyone’s childhood be this carefree?

…but there’s nothing taboo about children crying

I love that George and his peers will suddenly burst into tears when frightened, frustrated, or provoked by their elder siblings. It doesn’t stop their world from being a safe and happy place, or their day from being agreeable, and it doesn’t lead to high drama – it’s just reflects the fact that children are prone to short outbursts of temper and then pick themselves up again and get on with things. The funniest example of this is in Edmond Elephant’s Birthday, which I can highly recommend.

Age is just a number

Grandparents get all sorts of unusual bit parts in Peppa Pig. Yes, they perform the usual grandparenty tasks such as baking, babysitting and building treehouses. But the skills and energy of the older generation are limitless – Grampy Rabbit is the most energetic character of all in Gym Class, while Grandpa Dog is a full-time mechanic and charters a steam boat in his spare time. Similarly, George is not typecast as ‘the baby’ of the family: In Camping, he manages to carry all the wood Peppa has collected and piled onto him without complaint. In Daddy Puts Up a Picture, he forms part of the human chain that supplies Daddy Pig with the bricks he needs to cover up his mess before Mummy Pig comes home, and he’s instrumental in warning the others of her return.

Gender stereotypes have no place here

I like that gender roles are not fixed in Peppa Pig – but I also appreciate that this fact is not rammed down our gullets. Mummy Pig will swan off to visit her parents with nary a backwards glance, knowing the Daddy Pig can handle the childcare. She will ask Daddy Pig to put up a picture, but do it herself if he doesn’t get around to it. Similarly, she might ask Daddy Pig to sort out the computer when it crashes (Mummy Pig At Work) but she’s the one who knows how to put the roof up on the car when it rains in New Car, while Daddy Pig gets flustered. For his part, Daddy Pig will be making soup for the family in one episode (Mummy Pig at Work), but totally ballsing up a dish in another (Pancakes).

George is a proper character

George is no Sideshow Bob – he is a proper character who, despite only knowing one word (‘Dine-saw’), contributes in a meaningful way to most episodes, as I’ve described. What’s more, he is good-humoured and resilient in the way that little brothers of bossy older sisters need to be. Which leads me to…

Peppa is not an angel

I think one of the reasons I identify with Peppa Pig is because I was (am…) that annoying, chatterbox, know-it-all older sister. I like that she’s spirited and questions the world around her while still being a well-behaved, decent and respectful individual. And I particularly like that the discipline and life lessons she receives come as a result of the circumstances she’s created, rather than from finger-wagging elders. For example, in Bicycles, Peppa teases George for having a tricycle and cycling slowly, but gets a taste of her own medicine when her friends point out that she still uses stabilisers. And in My Cousin Chloe, Peppa – who usually lords it over George – realises how it feels when her elder cousin comes round.

Do you like Peppa Pig as much as I do? Why? Which other kids’ programmes do you recommend?

P.S. Your next favourite TV show, the five best movies to cry to, and friendship lessons from Rose’s favourite TV females.

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4 Comments

  • oorwoolie@gmail.com'
    Reply jen June 11, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    I found your blog through Rachel’s post on Design Mom. I have a 3.5 year old and we discovered Peppa Pig just this year. Maybe its not quite as popular in Canada so that’s why we just came upon it? Anyway, its my favourite show for Rowan and she loves it as much as I do. I think my favourite is when Daddy Pig dives and makes a minimal splash. My husband and I regularly say “everybody loves …..” and snort. Peppa Pig is awesome. I’m surprised no one else has commented! We recently found Sarah and Duck and like that one too.

    • Reply Nicky June 13, 2015 at 9:13 pm

      Oh thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment! Glad I’m not alone in loving kids’ TV. We also bandy about the catchphrases from Peppa Pig – mostly ‘I’m a bit of an expert at…’. And I haven’t seen Daddy Pig diving so will have to check that one out. Think my favourite all-time episode (so far) is Grampy Rabbit’s Boatyard, with the inspired casting of Brian Blessed as Grampy Rabbit. I’ll have a look for Sarah and Duck as we obviously have similar taste! Hope you come back for more on our blog – it’s exciting to know we’ve reached Canada! x

  • rheagan.coffey@gmail.com'
    Reply Rheagan June 12, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    I also found your blog through Design Mom. I’m a US expat living in Dublin, and my kids (3, 5, & 7) love Peppa. We didn’t know about it until we moved here. On this side of the pond, I also love Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom. I usually see it at a friend’s house, on NickJr (we don’t have a tv), but it probably also comes on DVD. I love it for the same reasons you love Peppa. Holly is a princess but not a girly-girl. Ben is her elf sidekick. They have loads of fun, but learn some good lessons as well.

    On the US side of the ocean, I love Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. (http://www.fredrogers.org/media/daniel-tigers-neighborhood/) It is shown on PBS, and is focused on emotional intelligence for preschoolers. If you ever saw Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in the 80s, this is the new follow-on series to that show. It is such a beautiful show with great themes for preschoolers. I love that it shows their honest feelings – angry, upset, jealous, etc and helps kids to understand that those feelings are normal, and we can deal with them.

    Oh I also love Lily’s Driftwood Bay (http://www.sixteensouth.tv/our_shows/driftwood_bay/driftwood_bay.html), which is produced in Belfast. The mixed-media makes the show even more endearing. I’m not a huge Disney fan, but I love Doc McStuffins, which is produced in Dublin. For not owning a TV, I sure do have pointed opinions about children’s television!

    • Reply Nicky June 13, 2015 at 9:15 pm

      Thanks ever so much for all these suggestions – I really must branch out from just Peppa at some point and these all sound great. I especially love your point about shows that validate honest feelings and teach kids how to deal with them – you put it so much better than me! x

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