 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tinga Tinga Tales
- Disney Channel
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
African folk tales feed kids' curiosity, teach good lessons.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that these African folk tales cater to kids’ natural sense of curiosity and will inspire their own creative thinking about the world around them. East African-inspired art and music complement the beautiful stories about how safari animals came to look and act as they do today, and at the heart of each tale is a positive lesson about relating to others and being a good person. This series is a great way to increase kids’ appreciation of the world’s cultural diversity.
What's the story?
TINGA TINGA TALES uses Tanzanian-inspired art to bring animal-centered African folk tales to life. Stories like “Why Lizard Hides Under Rocks” and “Why Lion Roars” put a multicultural spin on the theory of evolution and illustrate interpersonal issues like the importance of sharing, having courage in the face of fear, and being humble.
Is it any good?
This beautifully animated series exposes kids to rich African culture through art, music, and timeless storytelling that will change the way they (and possibly you) look at the world’s animal inhabitants. The intriguing tales were gathered from a range of African nations, and each one takes kids on a fantastical safari adventure to discover the reasons behind the natural world's diversity. Although the show is geared toward preschoolers, its stories and social messages won’t be lost on older kids who tune in, and it will inspire them to think creatively about how the world got to be the way it is today.
Tinga Tinga Tales is a great introduction to multicultural arts and heritage, and its brief format (each story is only 15 minutes long) caters to parents who want to share quality entertainment with their kids in small doses. And since the stories also incorporate positive messages about personal and social responsibility, there will be plenty to discuss about how the animals’ experiences relate to your kids’ lives after the TV’s turned of.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the lessons the animals learn. How does their behavior or attitude change? How do their friends help them recognize their negative behavior?
How are these stories different from the ones you usually hear in books or on TV? How is the artwork different? Do you like the way this show looks and sounds? Why or why not?
What aspects of the world around you do you think need explanation? What makes different animal species unique? If you could tell the story of how an animal came to look like it does today, what would you say?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Disney Junior usually has hits, but this is a miss.
At first glance, the show seems pretty cute. But some of the messages are either intentionally bad or just maybe not well-thought out. In the specific case of "Why the Hare Hops", the illustration given is a race between the tortoise and the hare. Instead of winning the race by hard work, the tortoise beats the hare over and over again by taking shortcuts and by sabotaging the hare by scattering thorns across the road for the hare to run over. The hare actually runs over the thorns and hurts his feet but there are no consequences for the tortoise. At the end of the episode, we are 'spoonfed' the message that "You don't have to win by being the fastest, you can just be 'clever'." Is this really the type of message we want to send to our kids- that cheating is okay and that if we're the underdog, we can hurt others and cut corners to win? We have watched about half a dozen episodes and I have mixed feelings after each one. To be on the safe side, we won't be watching the show again.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 25, 2011
AGE
The worst show that I ever seen!
Duh.............as boring as american idol!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures, wild animals |
| TV rating: | TV-Y |
| Network: | Disney Channel |
| Cast: | Geoffrey Curtin, Johnnie Fiori, Patrice Naiambana |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
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