Nick Jr Max and Ruby Cartoon Series Review
Kids TV Program for Preschoolers About Sibling Relationships
Jul 21, 2009
The Nick Jr Max & Ruby cartoon series, adapted from the classic Rosemary Wells books, teaches preschoolers how to resolve sibling conflicts and maintain healthy sibling relationships through animated episodes that tell about the experiences of two bunnies – three-year-old Max and his seven-year-old sister Ruby. Messy and rambunctious Max often clashes with practical and organized Ruby, but together the two bunnies model a loving, cooperative sibling relationship that celebrates the value of sharing one's talents and ideas and working together with other children.
Nick Jr Max & Ruby Episodes and Plots
Each episode of this Nick Jr show contains three self-contained stories. The plots of these vignettes often chart how Max and Ruby start out at odds in their approach to solving a problem or reaching a goal, but end up working together well.
For example, in many stories older sister Ruby has a goal toward which she is working, such as creating posters for an event or participating in an activity with her Bunny Scout troop. Although younger brother Max seems at first to be interfering with Ruby's projects or activities, in the end his contribution always ensures success.
The plots of other Max & Ruby episodes focus even more strongly on sibling issues, addressing how brothers and sisters can resolve problems resulting from conflicting wants. Preschool siblings watching this children's television show will learn how to compromise to figure out how to share their belongings and come to agreements about how to play with their toys together and who decides what games will be played each day.
Kids TV Program About Sibling Relationships
Many viewers are puzzled by the fact that Max and Ruby's parents do not appear as characters in this cartoon show. Ruby and Max's world is not entirely without grown-ups – their grandmother and a few other adult neighbors (such as local store owners Candi and Rosalinda) do feature in several episodes. And Max and Ruby's mother and father are even pictured in a family portrait shown in one episode.
Why are Max and Ruby's parents not shown taking an active role in their children's lives? By isolating the two bunnies, this preschool tv show focuses kids' attention on the relationship between Max and Ruby and how they work out their problems and personality clashes by themselves, without outside interference. This provides the preschool audience with a model for how they can work out their own conflicts with their own siblings and friends.
Nick Jr Show About Creativity, Imaginative Play, and Active Play
Along with providing a model for how bossy older sisters and meddling little brothers can coexist peacefully and discover respectful and loving ways to resolve their differences, this children's animated television program also celebrates the importance of creativity and the power of a child's imagination. In episode after episode Ruby and Max are shown participating in arts and crafts activities ranging from creating Easter bonnets and making event banners to decorating cakes and painting pictures.
One aspect of creativity that is particularly highlighted by this preschool animated series is the importance of appreciating and even taking advantage of serendipity. In several Max & Ruby episodes, Ruby experiences artistic triumphs as a direct result of Max's messy and sometimes accidental contributions to her artworks. For example, in one episode, the banner she is making is improved by the splotches of paint that Max and his friend Morris lob at it. In another, Ruby's Easter bonnet wins first prize in a contest because the judge is charmed to find Max's frog friend hiding in it.
Ruby and Max both also model the benefits of active play. The activities that fill their days are old-fashioned in the best way – rather than spending time playing video games or watching television, the bunny siblings jump rope, chase their shadows, play hide-and-seek, and fly kites. They organize pretend circuses and tea parties, collect leaves, and go bird-watching. From watching this animated comedy, kids can be inspired to try out some new kinds of imaginative and outdoor active play themselves.
Where to Watch Max and Ruby Episodes
The Max & Ruby cartoon show appears as part of the Nick Jr. and Noggin lineup in the United States and on Treehouse TV in Canada. Families can also purchase Max & Ruby videos and DVDs such as Easter with Max & Ruby and Springtime for Max & Ruby.
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