Have any of you seen the new PBS cartoon "Sid the Science Kid"? I was pretty excited to see that there was a new PBS cartoon coming this fall - you can only watch so much Curious George, Clifford and Word World!
This show is HORRIBLE!! I mean it's great as far as the kids learning something, but I don't know any mom out there who would be able to tolerate this show in their house. Imagine you child on his/her most annoying day...one of those days where you decide to move up bed time because you know if you have to spend 10 more minutes with your child that you might do some harm. Take that particular child on that particular day and multiply it times 10! Maybe it's just me, but these characters are annoying! Even the adults in the cartoon are just horrible! The grandmother is the worse - she picks Sid up from school and the car ride is obnoxious!
Check it out for yourself...this isn't a full episode, but you'll get the idea.
Unfortunately Olivia LOVES the show!
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68 comments:
"Well I'm looking for my friends, I'm looking for YOU...."
Soooooo, we love the show here at our house! The kids have a lot of it memorized already - and I hate to say it, but so do I....
Maybe it'll grow on you! :)
O.K., so right after I posted that last comment, I pushed play on the YouTube episode, and my boys were completely glued to my computer!HA!
OMG I was going to write about Sid too!!!
I think the show is a bit odd. What's with the Medusa hair?
My kids love the show too! Personally, I miss Arthur. He was my favorite. I guess an aardvark just doesn't cut it in the world of kids television anymore!
Aimee - you aren't one bit annoyed by the dorky, hyper, crazy rugrats on this show? And the backseat driving with my grandma song? and the microphone, what's with the mic? Why does he need to make his voice even mor annoying? The kids on there just remind me of when kids get together and they are being that annoying kind of silly - the kind that makes your skin crawl!
Okay, enough, my blood pressure is going up!
Never seen it. We are in a year long Dora rut here. Once in a while Little Bill if she's feeling really crazy but almost always Dora.
I hate hate hate Calliou so if this Sid guy is half as annoying as that Calliou brat. . .
I wake up to SportsCenter every morning. Boys.
Sid is MUCH worse than Calliou! I can handle an episode of Calliou here and there. Sid and his bunch make me turn green!
Yo Gabba Gabba is the annoying show in our house these days. It's only thing I can get Aaron to sit down and watch.
We love the show too. My three and a half year old remembers the content and asks me about it when we are outside. "Hey dad this is just like on Sid!" I'm happy to see that he actually is learning something from this show.
And honestly, if you have spent any time watching Caillou with the nails on a chalk board sound of that kids voice, you will appreciate the change of pace. I can't stand Caillou anymore.
I typed "Sid the Science Kid horrible" into Google to see if others felt the way I did. I won't let me daughter watch this show. When it comes on, she yells out, "No Science Kid!"
This show is all recycled bits every day with only a little bit of new content. The voice sounds like the nerdy guy from "Grease" (maybe it is). Horrible, horrible, horrible. I thought I hated "Dragon Tales" but I'd rather sit through that.
Well, from a teacher's stand point, Sid is awesome! And I think he's rather cute too. My students love to watch him after lunch when they are winding down.
And more obnoxious that Calliou!? I doubt that. Calliou teaches bad manners and how to whine. It is awful!
If it bothers you that much, turn it off, rather than turning off a whole bunch of mommies whose kids might love it!
the voices are rather grating which is a shame given that the inetntions are good and had a lot of potential
How many kids shows are actually low key? Do you really think your kids are interested in a show about a low-energy kid? Doubtful.
Sid the Coma Kid just would not be that interesting now would it?
My preschool Daughter loves the show and she is learning things from it. I much prefer it over Yo Gabba Gabba and Caillou (but not the Backyardigans).
My 3 year old loves it and I like the message it sends but that geralg kid is a wierd kind of funny. Some of the writers of this how must have had a strange childhood.
You all seem a little to serious. The show is fun and the kids really learn something. I don't experience anything wrong with it and the music is catchy. It is repetitive and they really get into it. Relax and let your kids enjoy their toddlerhood.
I kinda feel the same way about Sid: Annoying. But... our girls like it, and it's made for kids, not adults. Just goes to figure adults won't like it.
My wife and I can't stand it. Here's our theory on the characters:
Sid - grows up to become some sort of scientist; has a brief fling with May in high school, but it never developes because...
May - Is a lesbian. Goes to college to get an MFA in Ceramic Arts, moves to New Mexico to live with her "Life Partner" on a ranch in the desert.
Gabriella - Cheerleader, sorority girl, will date Gerald briefly in high school until she goes to college and he goes to trade school to become a welder. She marries a doctor or lawyer. Will divorce at least once. Always happy to tell anyone who will listen about her acting career: "Weren't you a child actor?" Embittered at the loss of her youthful looks and childhood fame, she turns to alcohol.
Gerald - Nothing but trouble, but only results in minor run-ins with the law later in life. Good-natured, but dumb as a bag of bricks. Tends to drinking too much, which only lands him in fistfights and, consequently, short bouts of jailtime in the county pokey. Eventually hangs himself from a goal post at the high school football stadium. Has a picture of Gabriella stapled to his bare chest.
You guys are insane. This show is WONDERFUL! I am 33 years old with a 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy who absolutely love the show! We have our DVR set to record it even, so we can watch it any time we want!
Sid is cool... who cares about the microphone, eh? You're telling me you don't understand a kid's love for his favorite toy? Ugh...
Gabriella is somewhat annoying because she's got this "I'm going to be an air-headed cheerleader when I grow up" thing about her... and Meg is very annoying with the mousie/breathy voice... but that's really all that bothers me about the show.
I *REALLY* like how they handle Gerald. He's OBVIOUSLY a kid that most people would want to diagnose with ADHD, but the way Teacher Susie handles him is very cool. Most teachers would be all exasperated with him for not coming to "rug time" immediately and in an orderly way... she lets him have his fun and be who he is, and he's better for it. No need for drugs if the teacher works WITH the kid rather than trying to force him in to a mold he wasn't designed to fit in to, right?
Oh, and the grandmother is voiced by a 43 year old actress that REALLY SUCKS at doing the whole "I'm an old person" voice. FAR too shaky... again, I deal with it. I love the science aspect of the show that encourages discovery and questioning.
I have actually found myself watching DVR recordings at 3am while my kids are asleep... yeah... alone... odd, huh? :)
To tell you the truth, what was more annoying was reading the comments. Especially the "forsight into their adulthood"..WOW! I can't even believe I actually did that.
But, I love Sid! So does my Lonu. We have fun together, and I even bought her a microphone so she could record interesting and exciting things she learns throughout her day; mind you she is only 15mos. But, she is learning, she and I both love the music. Like others said,it's really educational for the kids. So as long as it teaches without disrespect, sarcasims and vulgar behavior, I am all for it. Korny, kooky and crazy as it may be... we were all kids once. So, we should allow our kids to grow and learn and explore.
There is a time for everything... in life...enjoyment with your children should not be a blood-pressure raising event. Maybe there are some deeper rooted issues there?!
I like the show, too. I like the little repetitive parts - they're very short and kids love them. My daughter and I can sing them together.
I also agree the way the teacher gently guides Gerald is great. There are no battles (of course, she only has 4 kids in the class!)
It's WAY less annoying that a lot of the stuff out there.
I love the show and so does my daughter. My friends 3 1/2 year old son is glued to this show when its on. It's very educational and very cute. I highly recommend this show to everyone with young children.
I'm so glad there's someone else out there who shares my hatred. ;)
In response to your negative comments on Sid the Science Kid, I guess I just don't understand your point of view. This show teaches kids not to be afraid to ask questions to gain more knowledge. The only child I find to be annoying is Gerald, but saying that I think that Gerald helps children understand that we are all different, that we do not always fit in a perfect mold.
I like that the parents are interested in their childrens thoughts. The teacher teaches with a method called "regio". This method lets the children learn through different scenerios. You will find that this teaching method is going to be used more often.
As for the repetition, this helps kids learn without watching the same episode everytime.
My son and I DVR this show and watch it in our downtime. It will grow on you the more your child learns.
Mommy to an angel, have you forgotten that these shows are not for your enjoyment? This program captivates my daughter. It is a great teaching program. Would I rather watch the news some mornings, yes, but what does my daughter learn from the news? Murder, corruption, etc. No thanks. Lighten up and just let your child(ren) be young and enjoy life.
Worst. Show. Ever. My four-year-old son despises it and so do I!! I'm wondering if, because it's a Henson show and everyone assumes they're going to be good, they didn't do much audience research? Anyway, we hate it and it always seems to be on when I tell my kid he can watch two shows on PBS. Aaargh!
My 2.5 year old loves to show. I record on the DVR every episode. I think this program is AWESOME. I even enjoy it, watching it with him. Sure there are anoying characters but Have you ever sat through an hour of SESAME STREET. At least Sid The Science Kid is only 25 minutes. My son, is going going all day long, but when Sid comes on he is GLUED to the TV. I don't mind him watching this program because it is educational. I just did a Google search for the mic, I want to find one for him cause he walks around the house talking into pens (no good) or spoons, anything he can find to imitate Sid. I think it is COOL. Also, pre school is coming soon for him and he has NEVER been away from me (the stay at home mom) so I am hoping the more he wants to imitate Sid, the easier it will be for him to go to school, cause you know, "NOW IT'S TIME FOR HAVING FUN IN SCHOOL" And I certainly will encourage his teacher to show Sid in the class room. By the way, I am very picky about what he watches on the tv, now and in the future. I would much rather him imitate Sid, than 99% of the other cartoon characters. Think about it.
I came across your blog because I ALSO typed "Sid the Science Kid horrible" into google. This show makes me want to kill myself. I agree that every character on it is as annoying as it's possible to be. It makes me sad that it's a Jim Henson production. I bet he's turning in his grave!
My boy loves this show and to be honest, when he is happy, I am happy! We love to watch it together and sing the songs. I think it is very cute!
It's not made for adults to watch..... its for kids!! So if they enjoy it why do you care?
I just googled "why are the character voices so annoying on sid the science kid" and landed here. Just wanted to let you know that other haters are out here :)
As a teacher and a parent, I think Sid the Science Kid is one of the better of the shows on PBS. He's always positive and happy. My 3 yr daughter loves the show songs and she takes the educational content eagerly. She honestly learns from it. We love Sid and Sesame Street. I agree with a previous poster saying Caillou teaches whining and bad behavior. I also feel the same about Arthur.
My Son Loves Sid the Science Kid, and i like that he is learning things from it. I do understand what you are saying about it being a bit annoying, but the only part i cannot stand is the voices, those drive me insane, esp. may and gerald. But, honestly i would take it any day over whiny calliou!
I think Sid is a great concept -- science education, curiosity, accepting differences, interracial/intergenerational family -- all those things are aces in my book. But I hate the execution. I find it unrealistic and annoying. It's been banned in our house because I wake up in the middle of the night hearing the songs.
wow, so many different opinions on this show. My 2-year-old son loves it. I think the creators have a great idea about a variety of kids' characteristics (all the kids are different from one another). I wish there was a real pre-school like that one.
But my husband can't stand May's voice. She slightly annoying, but I can get over her. Our son is fascinated by Gerald. lol
hehehe
Although I just find the show irritating, I can see how it can provoke such strong negataive reactions.
Besides the dumb voices (adult males cannot pull off young kids well... they just sound like, well, adult males pretending to be little boys; no idea why they didn't use the typical adult female voices for boys), the show's biggest sin is that it perpetuates racial stereotypes. This is beyond contestation... the evidence is right there on the screen everytime it airs.
Nothing that isn't fixable, though. Good concept show, I think, just needs some tweaking.
teachpreneur
I am shocked at the ridiculously negative posts about this show. The show is designed for kids -- not their selfish parents -- and is highly educational. Seriously, people, have you watched the news? Do you know what's going on in our country and around the world? Focus all that energy on the REAL problems! Raised blood pressure over kids' programming isn't healthy or productive.
omg... tom norris of iowa -- you have the same sick sense of humor that my dh and i have about the show. yes, it can be annoying, but then, aren't all kids' shows? (after all, they're for kids!) our dd loves the show and we like to secretly joke about what the characters will be like when they grow up. our predictions were almost identical to yours - ha ha!
I Googled "Sid the Science Kid stereotypes" to get here, and I'm hoping by posting this, it will raise the page rank a little bit.
I have no beef with the silly or obnoxious nature of the show. Like some have pointed out, that's kids TV for you. That's not why I find it offensive.
My biggest problem is with the overtly stereotypical character May. You could probably make a case for other racial stereotypes in the show, but this one is ridiculous. When I first saw May, I said, "is this for real?" I asked my wife, "what's her deal, anyway?"
It's a terrible attempt at stereotyping, first of all. It's not 100% clear to me that the creators' intent was to give the character an accent, because if it's intentional, it sounds like someone from East TN (where I live) trying to imitate a generic Asian accent.
What reinforces the stereotype in my mind is the skin/hair combination and the skirt/glasses combo that evokes a schoolgirl image from Japanese pop culture. I appreciate the sentiment of including different ethnicities, but would you create a Native American child wearing moccasins and feathers and speaking broken English? What about a black child speaking incorrectly with gold teeth and chains?
Second, if it's not an Asian accent I'm hearing, then it's a speech impediment that I don't want my daughter emulating in her ongoing language development. Not to mention she also might mistake it for a bad Asian impersonation and internalize that.
The characters Might be funny but they are cartoons, is for kids, would you rather have your klids see a cartoon with violence, bulling and bad words so they can put them in practice at school? or have them use their imagination and ask the WHY of things, Kids now a days just use the PC and videogames, they might learn something... stop complaining...
In any case, they've sunk to an all-new low using the show as a mouthpiece for the FDA and CDC and Big Pharma. Annoying characters I can begrudgingly tolerate, but I put my foot down at pro-vaccine brainwashing. It's now banned in my home.
Haaahahahaa, Tom Norris you rock!
I love Sid The Science Kid. Yes it is repetitive but children learn by repetition. As far as the amount of new content, its just enough for a small childs attention span & givin in a way they realy seem to grasp. I think when you can look at the fact that this show has your child asking intelligent questions for age, as well as expanding vocabulary & awareness you may gain more appreciation for this show. Just look at the alternatives >.<
Sid is great! I can't believe you freaks - it's a kids show; and a very well done one at that. The characters are all friendly and inquisitive, ready to learn new things... Are you people so bitter that this is what you are reduced to? What *should* kids be watching? Texas Chainsaw Massacre? The life and times of Jenna Jameson? sad....
I hope you all realise that Sid the Science Kid is sponsored with grant money from the US dept of Education--which means authorized with agenda. Aside from the annoying aspects of the show, it gives your children a good daily dose of wacko-environmental propaganda and politically correct gobbidy-gook. If you didn't get your flu shot before watching it, you might need one after it just to keep from throwing up--hey, let's throw up anyway just to investigate what we had for lunch!
Yeah!
I hope you all realise that Sid the Science Kid is sponsored with grant money from the US dept of Education--which means authorized with agenda. Aside from the annoying aspects of the show, it gives your children a good daily dose of wacko-environmental propaganda and politically correct gobbidy-gook. If you didn't get your flu shot before watching it, you might need one after it just to keep from throwing up--hey, let's throw up anyway just to investigate what we had for lunch!
Yeah!
I hope you all realise that Sid the Science Kid is sponsored with grant money from the US dept of Education--which means authorized with agenda. Aside from the annoying aspects of the show, it gives your children a good daily dose of wacko-environmental propaganda and politically correct gobbidy-gook. If you didn't get your flu shot before watching it, you might need one after it just to keep from throwing up--hey, let's throw up anyway just to investigate what we had for lunch!
Yeah!
you people are horrible turning your kids and other parents off to a great educational show like sid I LOVE SID AND I KNOW AND SING ALL THE SONGS Im more into it than my kid I would really like to know what you let your kids watch
This is all too funny. My boys love this show. I really like the science lessons it teaches. Getting children interested in science at an early age helps them as they grow up. My son had a kindergarten teacher like that.
Now my thoughts on Gerald: Definitely ADHD. And yes, I agree that they handle him very well. It doesn't make him any less annoying though.
Grandma: Oh my Gawd! I think she took too many hits of the glaucoma "medicine". lol Her laugh makes my skin crawl.
But my boys love it so I tolerate it every day.
I wound up here after I googled looking for info about Gerald. My husband thinks he's supposed to be mentally challenged and I think he's just got common ADHD.
Either way... I DETESTED the show at first. The voices were annoying and Grandma was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I flipped over to something like Handy Manny on the Disney Channel the second I saw Sid pop up.
THEN we were in between homes and staying temporarily somewhere that didn't have cable and I let PBS run in the background while my kiddo was playing. The show really grew on me. My suggestion - if you don't like it just because you think it's annoying, give it a second or third chance.
Ummm... but Grandma may never become less annoying. The "looking for my friends" song and the kids' dances in it are kind of irritating too... I usually use that time to go get another cup of coffee.
By the way, before I became a stay at home Mom, I used to do marketing, and I'd spend about one afternoon per week googling to see what the general opinions were about my company and our products. I always feel like constructive criticism and sites like this are good because, if the producers are smart enough to look for it, it can help direct them in what their audiences will like. So I personally appreciate your post Mommy to An Angel - even though I disagree.
- A Mommy in PA
Instead of bashing on shows that actually teach kids something, why not take them outside and be their teachers? We've got enough boob-tube-raised children in the world; it's about time parents take responsibilty and raise their own children.
This is way worse than any other show on TV. My sister sometimes watches PBS kids, she's 7, but even she hates Sid. It's annoying, I mean sure I guess you could learn SOMETHING, but there's way too much pointless singing in it to give you any real value.
I think this show is great except for the racial "equality" they sprinkle in with the characters. Gerald the "white kid" is a complete idiot, with an obsession with food and being... well.. an idiot. I have to mute the t.v. sometimes when he speaks. May is the cutie pie, Gabriella is the girly girl, and Sid is smart. Gerald got the bad end.
And with all the great graphics and picture quality, they could have spent some more money making it all little less creepy. When the characters talk, their dot of an eye wanders! EEk!
But this show is great for a learning experience for children. It teaches them great hands on science projects, and gets them thinking outside the box.
The annoying voices I can look past, save Gerald, the idiot white kid. And i agree about the stereotypical personality of May. With her little t-shirt with the cutsie bunny. They pushed the racial message way too far.
The "looking for my friends" song is VERY annoying. It's like, to be cool anymore, you have to be into rap or urban culture. There's nothing wrong with it in and of itself, but it seems to be overused a a way of being "cool".
Thank God netflix streaming has southpark uncensored episodes, my 17 month old son isn't growing up on this politically correct crap.
3 years later... This is our FAVORITE show no question!!!! We LOVE it! It is one of only two shows that LO will just sit and watch it til it is over (the other is RAGGS).
Also, OMG, Caliou is the one with the annoying voice!!! Can't stand his whiny voice!
I would have to say that initially this show made me a bit crazy and annoyed . Well, forget what I think my daughter loves this show and since it educational I let her watch and now my husband and I are hooked too. Also, my daughter loves Gerald best and gets so excited when he comes on in the opening.
Annoying whiny kid....Caillou makes me crazy and I will not play this ever!!
Sid is a great show. As a teacher I see kids like them all day. Very realistic, and it taps into Socratic thinking. Gerald is off task a lot so I use it as a teachable moment that Gerald is not being respectful to the teacher. Caillou is horrible, my son has begun to use Caillou's disrespectful tone. My only major concern w/ Sid is the sporadic interjections of liberal messages (like the Save the Stump Episode where the kids stand in front of Sid pretending to be a bulldozer).
5 minutes into the show I can pick out all the races in the show. sid's half white and half black - his dad is obviously white and his mom sounds very "urban". gabriella is latino well cause of the name and she can dance in the intro. jerral is the crazy white dude. may is the weird nerdy asian chick (see the glasses and the slight accent). the producers did a pretty good job of making sure the races show!
I absolutely LOVE the show and I don't have any children, but watch it to gain ideas for my pre-school class. I can understand how the repetition can be annoying for adults, but it is key for learning, and children flourish when they can begin to participate in what they view. I also love the ethnic diversity of the school and Sid's family! The show is brilliant and I think it's a shame that anyone would would work so vehemently to turn other parents against it rather than simply not watch it themselves.
We have a special needs daughter who is not very vocal at all. Since she started watching this show she has started to repeat words on it. She loves it.
We actually found and bought a Sid the Science Kid microphone on Ebay for her for Christmas this year.
Oh, I'm sorry. I guess all the naysayers probably don't like the word Christmas either...
Some of you parents should be ashame of yourselves. The show is educational for "children" not for adults.
I love this show. It is veru educational and my 3 year old remembers the things she learns on the show. May is my favorite character and Gabriella is her favorite. We play Sid and do the experiments that the show does on our science days. She can tell people all about decay, reversible change, she loves to brush her teeth and knows that dessert is not good to eat all of the time. She also goes outside and runs for 5 min then checks her heart rate during playtime. And she is 3!
My only complaint with the show is the grandma's laugh. My daughter imitates it sometimes and I just don't like the way it sounds.
These shows are meant for kids and are meant to educate them. It is better for me to be a littled annoyed than for her to watch shows that don't stimulate her brain in anyway.
I literally was just watching that show with my kids and thinking how much I am annoyed with the voices!! I googled and found this. LOL!!! Yes, I really don't like the characters and their voices. Informative but ANNOYING!!
Great show ladie. our son loves it and we would never think of doing any harm to him. maybe you need a doctor not a better cartoon
mommy to angel,
reading your comments make me think you are far too impatient to have children in the first place. If you can't handle a TV SHOW for your kids' sake, that's bad enough. But to hear you talk about how your kids annoy you to the point that you put them to bed so that you don't do harm to them, that is just not okay. You should love your kids always. Yes, kids can be annoying, but they're only young for a short time. Let them be silly and enjoy life!
You people take it way too seriously. While the premise of this show is good, and my kids love it, you CANNOT dispute that it is SUPER annoying and that their voices are ridiculous as are their appearances. What is Gerald? A purple onion? And what's with Sid's hair?
Googled "Why do the characters in Sid the science kid speak in strange accents" and ended up here. Too funny! My 4 yr old is currently fixated with a Sid video he picked out of the library.
I get how some viewers could be annoyed with the stereotypical characters and environmentally liberal viewpoints (I would have ripped that stump out of the ground), but they don't bother me.
My 6 yr old's (who watches with his little brothers) biggest complaint is that there are only 4 kids in Sid's class. He thinks they must be in pre-school although their building is very elementary like. It really bothers him. As a teacher I would kill for that ratio, LOL.
The kid's voices are super annoying, but if you have ever spent any significant time around groups of children then you know some of them have really annoying voices.
I love the science concepts!!! Children's shows regularly expose kids to LAL, math, and to a lesser extent geography. Rarely do you find much about science, which is why Sid has such a vital place in children's tv. He makes science interesting to kids.
However, I HATE teacher Suzie's voice! She pronounces many sounds incorrectly, which is a terrible example for their target audience who are still learning to speak fluently and accurately. As an educator, I find it very upsetting!
Bottom line- Sid grows on you, give it a shot.
Okay I agreethat Caillou teaches bad behaivior and bad manners and whining. But I absolutely do not, repeat DO NOT agree that Arthur teaches any of those things. The characters on Arthur do get into trouble and do things they aren't supposed to but always at the end of every episode they learn a lesson on what they did and how it was wrong and why they shouldn't do it again. And as far as I know of the only one who actually whines on the show is D.W. and she is supposed to be based on a four year old child and I'm not sure. If you're aware of this but they whine a lot even after you tell them not too. Because they're kids and they're minds haven't properly developed so they pretty much forget right after you tell them. But anyway my point is that there are much worse shows on PBS, Caillou, (promotes whining, bad manners, and bad behavior), Th Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That, (promotes going off to strange places with people your parents don't know and being put into dangerous situations), Super Why, (makes children believe they can travel into books and that books can solve all of lifes problems with a super story answer), Maya And Miguel, (makes children believe that butting into others lives is totally acceptable and that nothing can go wrong). I'm not saying you have to like the show but do your research on more of them before you start beating down one of the more educational ones just because you don't enjoy it.
Show is a mess ain't no way my 5 year old run thru the house screaming that early and his grandma drive so slow he should be late every morning and Gerald and may is retarted
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