It first came out when I was in college and my initial thought was, "they let kids watch this?" (Okay my initial thought was actually "is that a dancing dildo?" but let's keep this G-rated, shall we haha)
For kicks I watched a few episodes and drove my mother and sister insane by singing some of the songs. My favorite being, "there's a party in my tummy!"
Overall, I thought is was a really fun show--but for kids? Not so much. I just assumed they marked it was marked a children's program because it was so absurd it couldn't be labelled anything else.
Then Julian was born...and my opinions started to change.
There aren't very many shows that get Julian's attention (not that I'm complaining! I'd rather he wasn't a couch potato), but when Yo Gabba Gabba! is on he is enthralled. He stands up and dances a long with them (as much as a baby who can't walk yet can dance, anyway). He loves music, so when they sing they have his full attention. I think all the colors and the bizarre characters really just fascinate him. He genuinely enjoys the program!
Now that I get to watch the show through parenting eyes, I understand it better than I did before. It's meant to be fun, and hip, and different--but it still has all of the fundamental values shows like Sesame Street have, it's just packaged differently. Way differently.
If you're new to Yo Gabba Gabba! and are a little anxious about your kids watching it, I'd say--let them be! The show encourages kids to get up and move, be themselves, try different things, and be respectful to others. All of these are lessons I feel are REALLY important nowadays; kids need to exercise more, they are bogged down every day by images of what they SHOULD be--which makes them scared to do things different, and the amount of bullying that goes on today is sick and is sad. If a cast of crazy characters can help today's kids actually BE kids--then I am completely on board!
And if you're a parent who HATES kids shows, I'd say give this one I try anyway--you might just enjoy it...if only because of how completely ridiculous the whole thing is. Oh and the music, can be pretty freaking good when they have guest artists on. Just saying.
Yo Gabba Gabba! airs on Nick Jr.
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