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Why I Love...In the Night Garden

Characters from In the Night Garden
  • Posted at 4:37pm
  • 10 March 2008
  • by LucyBarrick-RT
  • 6 comments

As the mother of a two-year-old, I'm extremely familiar with a wide range of children's TV. And most of it is lost on me – it's garish, fast-paced, loud and, OK, more than a little bit silly. But that's fine, because it's not meant for me. If I were two, I'd probably love it.

However, when In the Night Garden started last year it made a big impression on me. At first I was stunned, and wondered what this surreal video-art installation was doing on CBeebies. But soon I found myself actually looking forward to sitting down and watching it with my son.

So what's the appeal? Well, for starters, the fact that it's NOT garish, fast-paced or loud - although it is undeniably a little bit silly. I mean, where else can you hear Derek Jacobi, respected thespian, knight of the realm and all-round national treasure intoning, with great seriousness, the words: "Yes, my name is Igglepiggle. Igglepiggle, wiggle, niggle, diggle" (or indeed: "Makka Pakka, akka wakka, mikka makka moo"), all with the same gravitas he'd bring to Shakespeare or Chekhov?

And aesthetically it's the opposite of your usual neon-bright, flashy fare. When Igglepiggle sails across the dark ocean, and the stars turn into flowers, it's slow, lush and beautiful. The whole thing is colourful, but in a way that reflects nature, with trees, flowers and birds, not computer-game gaudy.

Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and friends are lovable, quirky, and nice to each other – they certainly don't display any behaviour you wouldn't want your child to mimic. The whole thing also gives grown-ups a kind of instant nostalgia for an idealised version of their own childhood. The little Pontipines are like something from a more innocent time, where kids played with a wooden spoon and a saucepan lid…and LIKED it, rather than going online to play a virtual version of the spoon-and-lid game with a banging techno soundtrack.

In fact, most kids' programmes make them excited - it's the audio/visual equivalent of giving them a can of pop and a bag of fizzy sweets. And if you've been up five times in the night to feed/change/put them back to bed, then watching one is going to give you a big, fat headache. But ITNG is designed to relax children (and adults); the whole thing is dreamlike and helps make the transition from playtime to bedtime go smoothly.

And, better still, you don't need to feel guilty about letting your children watch it – there are years of research and a deep understanding of child psychology behind the show.

When our son was a baby and waking in the night, my husband once asked me to put the musical mobile on. When I said I didn't think he really found it very soothing, my husband's reply was that HE did. And it's much the same with me and ITNG. Because now, after his early enthusiasm (and a wealth of tie-in toys), the youngest member of the household's passion for the programme has waned. But not mine.

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Post a comment | 6 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 20 October 2009
  • at 12:23am
  • by AcisseJ

Welll, excuseee meee!!!!

i think its WONDERFULL and even tho im 14 i absolutelyLUV IT 10/10 goood job the creators its fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Posted on 06 October 2009
  • at 10:54am
  • by piglet

Talk about over the top! there is nothing wrong with in the night garden....it's an imaginery world and a beautiful one at that. Have you ever heard the expression "use your imagination"!! Both my boy's love this cartoon and i have no problem watching it with them. Very creative-top marks..there should be more programmes like IN The Night Garden.

  • Posted on 26 May 2009
  • at 12:03pm
  • by Julie

I couldn't disagree more. In the Night Garden is an AWFUL programme. It encourages the use of poor English and teaches children the names of objects that do not exist. While the main aim of the programme is not an educational one, it is important to remember that children of the age who watch this are at their most important stage of learning, and by watching this programme, they are being taught made-up words which have no relevance to real life. I am disgusted that the BBC is allowed to show this complete rubbish to young children and completely baffled that any parent in their right mind would allow their child to watch it. Having silly names for characters on these programmes is not a problem - a name can easily be explained, but to have made up names for objects is completely ridiculous. I fear for a generation of children who will think they can go out on their og-pog with their uff-uff and take a ride on a pinky-ponk. How utterly ridiculous. CBeebies is a channel that is blocked on my television, as I cannot trust the BBC to show programmes that are suitable for my son. I'm shocked that my money is spent on this tripe.

  • Posted on 01 April 2008
  • at 11:24am
  • by stase9800

I have just made a complaint to the BBC about the time change of in the night Garden, now the time has changed my daughter can't watch it as she goes to nursery, we never used to miss an episode, it's gutting as we all used to sit and watch it together & have bought her all the accessories including the tent & I have just splashed out on borders, stickarounds, curtains rugs ect to decorate her bedroom with In The Night Garden. Most of what she has is to do with ITNG She even has an In The Night Garden pillow that she puts her head on and closes her eyes at the end of ITNG when all the characters do the same. has anyone else got a problem with the time change??

Stacey x

  • Posted on 14 March 2008
  • at 3:28pm
  • by weaselm4

I too am the mother of a 2 year old. He has an unfathomable preference for Upsy Daisy over Makka Pakka.

Which is weird as Makka Pakka is by far the best character in TV.So glad I'm not the only one who watches ITNG "for the kids".

  • Posted on 11 March 2008
  • at 11:34am
  • by kgrant

I agree, it's genius. I don't have a kid and I'm not even a student, I just really, really want to go on the Ninky Nonk Train.

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