Michelle Obama, garden gnomes and Cbeebies shortcomings

One day, when Ava turned her nose up at something on her plate, I sagely said "Well you might grow to like it.  Tastes change." 

"Yes," said Ava, "that's because adults have fewer taste buds than children. They die as you get older."

"Well," I replied, slightly taken aback, "I suppose that could be true."

"It is" said my daughter.  "I know.  I saw it on Nina and the Neurons."

This is becoming a problem.  I now officially know less than my daughter about biology, physics, chemistry and, if those Numberjacks don't shut up, maths too.

But there are areas of my children's eduction poorly catered for by good old Cbeebies.  This week, with news of Michelle Obama's appearance planting veg on Sesame Street, I was reminded how paltry and vaguely disturbing our child-based gardening programmes really are.

I give you exhibit A - Gordon the Garden Gnome.  I guess it looked great on paper - a cute little cartoon gnome with a range of tiny friends all fitting some vague stereotype from the proud, wealthy and foolish try-hard neighbour to the dependable friend and the humorous side-kick. 

But surely I'm not the only one to find bearded old men in tight-fitting dungarees far from ideal role-model material.  And although I have always had a soft spot for Alan Titchmarsh, being the voice of Gordon was not his finest hour - I'd even rate it below his appearance on the Archers (which is saying something).

Other than that, we're left with Mr Mopple, in Step Inside - supposedly a gardener, yet as the title suggests, he has a habit of leaving his work at a moment's notice to step inside a talking house and converse with Boris the bookshelf, Twinkle the cat and Chloe the clock.  Really, I'm not making this up.

Of course, my own childhood was not much better.  We had Percy Thrower and the Blue Peter garden, but my only real memory of that was the goldfish in the sunken garden pond and the scandal when it was vandalised (which may, or may not, have involved footballer Les Ferdinand).

Perhaps we should follow the American way and have Sarah Brown joining her husband to pot up seedlings with Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy.  On second thoughts, maybe we should just stick with the Gordon we've got. 

Comments

[HappyMouffetard]

Ah yes, the infamous vandalism of the Blue Peter garden. My only other link to TV gardening as a child were Billl and Ben (who I was vaguely frightened of) and the Herbs.

[Dawn/LittleGreenFingers]

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about The Herbs. Was the lion called Dill or Parsley? - it's all a little hazy

They actually brought back Bill and Ben featuring John Thompson as a snail. You've got to think that hurt after Cold Feet fame.

[HappyMouffetard]

How sad that I know the following - dill the dog, parsley the lion, constable knapweed, the chives, and so on and so on...

I was of the age when a 12 piece jigsaw (of the Herbs) was a considerable challenge. Mind you, I feel like that sometimes now.

[Lia Leendertz]

How classy of you not to mention 'Fifi and the Flowertots'. An excellent female gardening role model, as it goes, but unfortunately only to be found on Channel 5. Dreadful.

[Dawn/LittleGreenFingers]

HM - Love the sound of Constable Knapweed - your memory is astounding even if puzzles are a challenge..

Lia - How could I forget Fifi? I am loving the idea that this is down to classiness when really it is more to do with my slowly disintegrating brain.

[Anna/Flowergardengirl]

How funny! and so true that our kids are on the genius level compared to us at their age--and my generation had Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans. If my grandmother had not taught me gardening....there wouldn't be a flowergardengirl.

[Iota]

I think you should write to Sarah Brown and suggest it. They would probably do more than that for a few extra popularity points, just at the moment.

[Dawn/LittleGreenFingers]

Anna - Captain Kangaroo and Mr Green Jeans - really? I'm now beginning to feel I was spoilt with Bagpuss, Dangermouse and Mr Ben...

Iota - You may be right, although even gardening isn't quite that miraculous.