TV Review: LazyTown
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the series' premise is to motivate viewers to dance and be acrobatic and active like the main characters. But the brightly colored sets, rubbery puppets, and spooky villain -- combined with the fast-paced jump cuts -- can create an exhausting effect. Characters are encouraged to make healthy choices like exercising, cutting down on snacks, and reading, but the point is sometimes lost in the show's chaotic nature.
- Families can talk about the characters' energy. Why are they so enthusiastic and excited? Is it because of the healthy choices they make?
- Does this show encourage your kids to dance or move around?
LAZYTOWN, created in Iceland, was born from the idea that kids should be encouraged to be active rather than lazy. Stephanie (Julianna Rose Mauriello) visits LazyTown to stay with her uncle, the mayor. She meets a variety of kids -- who happen to be puppets -- and befriends the town's superhero, Sportacus 10 (Magnus Scheving). Villain Robbie Rotten (Stefan Karl Stefansson)lurks nearby and is always trying to foil the kids' good time.
Kids will like the acrobatic moves that Sportacus 10 busts out -- flipping throughout his spacecraft, jumping over any hurdle, and dancing with Stephanie. This enthusiasm isn't without its benefits. Kids might try to jump and flip the way Sportacus 10 does. The role modeling is also well-intended, but the show's fantasy style doesn't invite real learning to take place.
Parents might take advantage of the momentum generated by this program by turning off the television and getting active with their kids -- after all, that's what LazyTown is really all about.
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