Kids

A Parent’s Guide To Peppa Pig: What We Know

Here’s what we parents need to know about the Peppa Pig Show.

If our kids start talking British then, it might be because of the Peppa Pig show. Once they’re done with CocoMelon, they’ll move on to the female anthropomorphic pig, Peppa, and her little adventures. Even though some of us grew up watching Winnie the Pooh, it’s still a little weird for us to see our kids enjoy a talking pig. Wondering why our kids love this show so much? Here’s what we know so far about it.

Who is Peppa Pig?

Peppa Pig is the show’s namesake. A female anthropomorphic pig with a British accent, she’s 4-years old and lives with her brother, George, Daddy Pig, and Mummy Pig. She also has contact with her extended family like her cousins, Chloe Pig and Baby Alexander, her aunt, Auntie Pig, along with her grandparents: Grandpa Pig and Granny Pig.

What’s the show about?

Each Peppa Pig episode is a good 5-10 minutes, featuring the adventures and hangouts Peppa Pig has with her friends. The majority of these episodes show how Peppa Pig tries to act more mature and grow up as a 4-year-old but sometimes reverts back to being a kid. The show has been running since 2004 and has won multiple awards despite the criticism.

Why do our kids love Peppa Pig so much?

Besides the bright colors that bring in kids, it’s how the show is written that makes it easier for kids to process. If we take a look at the naming convention of the characters, we’ll notice that the starting letter of their name is the same as their animal species. There’s Suzy Sheep, Mandy Mouse, Zoe Zebra, and many other characters that can easily teach kids about animals.

Why do some parents not want their kids to watch it?

Peppa Pig can come off as cheeky and even in her official write-up states, she can be “bossy”. She’s also pretty blunt with her family which can be seen as rude in Filipino families but acceptable in British culture. Moreover, Peppa has a bit of a temper wherein she takes it out on others. In a way, she kind of has the same vibes as Peanuts’ bossy and obnoxious character—Lucy Van Pelt.

Should we let our kids watch the show?

Many parents are actually on the fence about whether to let them watch. Some moms say that they don’t want their kids watching the show because it teaches “bad manners” such as being “blunt” with their relatives or “snorting while laughing”. Others are okay with it because the kids can strongly relate to Peppa Pig at their age. When they see an older relative (a cousin), they want to copy whatever that cousin does. Exactly what Peppa does throughout the show!

Should I worry if I start relying on the show to babysit my kids?

In the UK, neither the NHS nor the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has something definitive. But they do agree that as long as screentime’s kept under two hours for toddlers (kids ages 6 and below), it’s all good. Plus, it would be good if you watch Peppa Pig along with your kids. It might take some discussing how British families are different from Filipino ones.

But if there’s something urgent that needs to be done, it’s okay to rely on it. Or, if you need a 5-10 minute break from the kids. Just make sure to switch up the shows or do some book-reading to balance it out. But, if you start referring to the bathroom as “the loo”, well, that’s on you.

More guides to kids’ shows? Here are some!

A Parent’s Guide To CoComelon
Who is Blippi: 4 Reasons Why Kids Love Blippi
What We Need To Know About Pinkfong

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