My Top 5... oldies you can watch with your kids

Katharine Bosman picks her childhood classics that you can all still enjoy.

What a treat to ignore the kitchen clear-up, settle down on the sofa with your kids for a cuddle, enjoy some televisual nostalgia and cross fingers that they will love your childhood favourites as much as you. (NB: this doesn’t always work, for us Button Moon was a little disappointing, both for me and the kids, oh well…. some things are probably better left in the 80s.)

1. Pingu

Pingu is my top choice, because stop motion animation is always a treat for children, and it has a very different vibe to sophisticated cartoons. Similar to another favourite of mine, The Clangers, the penguins do not communicate using real spoken language. I talked to my children about how this means that children all over the world can watch Pingu, regardless of what language they speak – they loved that idea.  (1986-2006)  

2. Paddington

Unrelated to the success of the new films, the original series is completely charming. The deliberately simple animation makes a welcome change to lots of contemporary TV which can seem overwhelming.  Paddington himself is a 3D puppet, while all other characters and the backdrops are paper cut-outs. Paddington gets himself into all sorts of mischief of course, but he is always helped out by those around him. His world is funny and reassuring, for kids growing up in a world which is often reported as being dangerous (even if it actually isn’t…) the idea that the vast majority of people are kind and helpful is an important one. (Paddington Bear, Film Fair 1976-87 )

3. Robin Hood

A long time ago, in a faraway land, legend tells an extraordinary tale of courage and friendship.... Get ready for swashbuckling adventure, unforgettable characters, memorable music, and lots of laughs in Disney's ROBIN HOOD.

I can’t resist adding this Disney film to the list. This was THE favourite Disney for my brother and me growing up, and sharing it with my kids is a delight. A very funny version of this classic English folk-tale, the songs are infectious, and it’s highly quotable. My son is a bit bemused that there might be any other versions of Robin Hood involving actual people, rather than foxes, chickens, hippos and bears. (1973) 

4. Wind in the Willows

This nearly didn’t make the list as I got all worried it was a bit too Brexit-Britain-pastoral-idyll. However, I realised that this is about kids television and that actually it’s ok for them to watch some stop motion talking animals who live by a beautiful river in a non-specific time that definitely isn’t our own but isn’t entirely alien either. My kids enjoy the antics of these mostly likeable animals and the familiarity of every episode ending with “oh Toad!” The central theme seems to be friendship and the importance of looking after each other, and that’s good enough for me. (The Wind in the Willows, Cosgrove Hall 1984-88)

5. Around the World with Willy Fogg

randomdalek presents the full length English theme song to classic 1980s animation series Around The World With Willy Fog. The theme is sung by Ted Mather.

More talking animals of course. This series is mostly a delight and my kids enjoy the ‘what’s going to happen next/will he make it??’ thrill of mild jeopardy that underpins the story. As with many ‘old’ TV programmes there is a bit of explanation required to fit the progressive world view that we are hoping to project, particularly involving the main female character - you can probably imagine…  (1983) 

Katharine Bosman lives in London and is the mother of two children. She spent ten years working for a social justice campaigning organisation, and is energised by where parenthood is taking her.