Back when I was a lad (and all this was just fields, etc etc), the summer holidays seemed to last for ever. It never rained, nor did I ever get bored. We’d while away those lazy days building tree houses, fishing for sticklebacks, befriending dolphins, that kind of thing. Ah, the memories…
Of course, the reality doesn’t quite match up to the kind of rose-tinted fabrication I’ll gleefully bore my grandkids with one day. Pretty much all I can recall of those days is collapsing out of bed after my parents had gone to work and spending hours watching the likes of Inspector Gadget, He-Man, and – of course – Why Don’t You? on TV.
I’m sure things are much the same for today’s youth, perhaps with more gangsta rap and less Roland Rat. But while we had to make do with the BBC and ITV’s meagre offerings, nowadays kids are spoilt for choice, and the LOVEFiLM streaming service has plenty to offer.
For little ‘uns (and perhaps some nostalgic parents too), we’ve got truckloads of Thomas and Friends, a positive plethora of Pingu, a barrelful of Bob the Builder and Barney, plus a fair few Fireman Sam episodes. In addition to that, we have all ten episodes of the wonderful Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions.
We’ve got some excellent animated films to amuse and excite the whole family including Hoodwinked and Arthur and the Invisibles (both of which boast all-star ensembles providing the voices), an alternative take on a fairytale classic in The Ugly Duckling and Me, and the surreal genius that is The Spongebob Squarepants Movie.
The adventures don’t end there. Older children – as well as adults of all ages – are spoilt for choice. We’ve got all three classic Neverending Story movies, adrenalin-fuelled action in Speed Racer, plus Nancy Drew, March of the Penguins, 80s sci-fi comedy Innerspace… the list just goes on and on!
Actually, come to think of it, forget plonking the kids down in front of you PS3™ or internet-connected Sony or Samsung TV, push them out the front door and force them to get some fresh air. It’s not healthy for them to be cooped up inside all day. Not when there’s so much quality family viewing for the grown-ups to enjoy!
Rob Holloway, Senior Content Manager – Devices