Bob The Builder TV Review | Common Sense Media

Home » How Old Is Bob The Builder » Bob The Builder TV Review | Common Sense Media

Maybe your like

Skip to main content
  • For Parents
  • For Educators
  • Our Work and Impact
Language: English English Español
  • Movies
    • Movie Reviews and Lists
      • Movie Reviews
      • Best Movie Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for Movies
    • Marketing Campaign

      • 50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

    • The Common Sense Seal

      • Common Sense Selections for Movies

  • TV
    • TV Reviews and Lists
      • TV Reviews
      • Best TV Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for TV
      • Video Reviews of TV Shows
    • Marketing Campaign

      • Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

    • Marketing Campaign

      • Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

  • Books
    • Book Reviews and Lists
      • Book Reviews
      • Best Book Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for Books
    • Article About Books

      • 8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

    • Marketing Campaign for Books

      • 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

  • Gaming
    • App Reviews and Lists
      • Fortnite
      • Minecraft
      • Roblox
      • All Game Reviews
  • Social Media
    • Podcast Reviews and Lists
      • Social Media
      • Snapchat
      • Instagram
      • TikTok
  • Parents' Guides
    • By Age & Stage
      • Preschoolers (2-4)
      • Little Kids (5-7)
      • Big Kids (7-9)
      • Tweens (10-12)
      • Teens (13-15)
    • By Topic
      • Digital Parenting Anxiety
      • First Phones
      • Social Media
      • Parental Controls
      • AI Companions
      • Generative AI
    • What's New

      • Parents' Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on Roblox

      • All Parents' Ultimate Guides
  • Tips & FAQs
    • Column 1
      • Family Tech Planners
      • Digital Skills
      • All Articles
    • Column 2

      • Carpool Conversations

    • Column 3

      • Two Truths & AI

  • Celebrating Community
    • Menu for Latino Content
      • Latino Culture
      • Black Voices
      • Asian Stories
      • Native Narratives
      • LGBTQ+ Pride
      • Jewish Experiences
      • Best of Diverse Representation List
    • FACE English Column 2

      • Multicultural Books

    • FACE English Column 3

      • YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

    • FACE English Column 4

      • Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

  • Donate

Parents' Guide to

Bob the Builder TV PBS Kids' Animation 1998 Bob the Builder Poster Image
  • Common Sense Says
  • Parents Say 18 Reviews
  • Kids Say 28 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Joly Herman By Joly Herman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

Teamwork paramount on friendly construction show.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Bob the Builder's primary focus is the can-do attitude that Bob and his building crew demonstrate while facing tough assignments, which has good messages about determination. While some of the duller details (paperwork, fundraising) won't interest preschoolers, they will like seeing…

 Why Age 3+? Products & Purchases

Bob's image is a marketing gold mine, and it graces products of many kinds.

 Violence & Scariness Not present Sex, Romance & Nudity Not present Language Not present Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Not present Any Positive Content? Positive Messages

Teamwork and cooperation are important, particularly when it comes to completing

 Positive Role Models

Bob and his crew maintain a can-do attitude, and Wendy is every bit as handy as

Educational Value

The show exposes kids to the basics of planning and building and illustrates how

  • Parents Need to Know

    Parents need to know that Bob the Builder's primary focus is the can-do attitude that Bob and his building crew demonstrate while facing tough assignments, which has good messages about determination. While some of the duller details (paperwork, fundraising) won't interest preschoolers, they will like seeing Bob and his anthropomorphic machinery at work. The show puts a female character at the forefront, a plus on a construction-themed program. A 2015 reboot significantly altered the look and sound of the show, portraying Bob and his peers as more mature versions of their originals and tasking them with larger-scale building projects, but the empowering themes at its heart remained the same.

  • Products & Purchases

    a little

    Bob's image is a marketing gold mine, and it graces products of many kinds.

  • Positive Messages

    a lot

    Teamwork and cooperation are important, particularly when it comes to completing tough assignments. The crew's motto is, "Can we fix it? Yes, we can!" Female characters are in prominent roles in this construction-themed show, including Bob's indispensable partner, Wendy, and the town's mayor. When mistakes are made, they provide valuable opportunities for learning lessons.

  • Positive Role Models

    a lot

    Bob and his crew maintain a can-do attitude, and Wendy is every bit as handy as Bob is. The cast as a whole is a multicultural group.

  • Educational Value

    very little

    The show exposes kids to the basics of planning and building and illustrates how different equipment is used to complete a job. The characters identify tools by name and, in later episodes, encourage kids to keep an eye out for a specific one in each story.

Where to Watch

  • Bob the Builder Trailer Bob the Builder
  • Bob the Builder TV: Scene #1
  • Bob the Builder TV: Scene #2
  • Bob the Builder TV: Scene #3
  • Bob the Builder TV: Scene #4
  • Bob the Builder TV: Scene #5

Bob the Builder

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
  • Parents Say (18)
  • Kids Say (28)
age 4+

Based on 18 parent reviews

See all 18 parent reviews age 4+

Based on 28 kid reviews

Kids say the show is a beloved classic for many, appreciated for its educational value, creativity, and catchy theme song. However, opinions are mixed, with some viewers finding it cringy or problematic, particularly regarding its impact on children's perceptions and potential trauma, while others enjoy its fun characters and positive messaging about teamwork and building skills.

  • entertaining for kids
  • educational value
  • mixed opinions
  • catchy theme song
  • some find problematic
Summarized with AI
See all 28 kid reviews

What's the Story?

For the youngest fixer-upper, BOB THE BUILDER has all kinds of ideas, and he's known for his can-do attitude and for getting things done when something in town needs fixing. But he doesn't work alone. His business partner, Wendy (voiced by Kate Harbour/Joanne Froggatt), is invaluable, and he has an army of machines and trucks that are always enthusiastic to help him as well. In later episodes, Bob (Neil Morrissey/Daniel Bacon/Lee Ingleby) and Wendy are joined by a building apprentice named Leo, whose eagerness to learn compensates for the fact that he makes his fair share of mistakes. They also take on larger projects, such as building movie sets or high-rises.

Show more

Is It Any Good?

Our review: Parents say (18 ): Kids say (28 ):

The most effective aspect of this series is the characters' ability to identify a problem or task, make a plan that aims to solve or accomplish it, and delegate the right crew to get the job done. It's a great illustration of teamwork; the plan of action is dictated by the unique needs of the job, and that means that the workers (human and machine) rotate responsibilities. Yes, Bob and Wendy are the leaders, but everyone plays a vital role in the eventual solution. Of course, there's also the fact that machines and trucks with personalities are fun to watch, which is a big winner for preschoolers.

The significant changes that accompanied Bob the Builder's return to TV in 2015 likely won't affect viewers who didn't already know and love the pudgier, overall-clad original incarnation, but they're more than a little off-putting if you're a loyalist. The taller, slimmer, more modern (though no less baby-faced) Bob and crew have their perks -- including the use of modern gadgets and the accomplishments of bigger projects -- but they lose some of their quaintness in the process. Happily, though, the show's excellent messages about working together and overcoming challenges made it through the renovation without a scratch.

Show more

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the challenges Bob and his crew face in Bob the Builder. How did Bob come up with the right solution? Could he have completed the job without the others' help? Why is it important to cooperate?

  • What mistakes are made in the repair or building process in this story? Are any of the characters immune to making them? Why is it important to ask for help when you need it?

  • If you've seen both versions of the show, compare and contrast them. How do the characters change? Do they seem older in the newer episodes? How does the addition of new characters change the dynamic within the group?

  • How do the characters in Bob the Builder demonstrate perseverance? Why is that an important character strength?

Show more

TV Details

  • Premiere date : November 20, 1998
  • Cast : Kate Harbour , Neil Morrissey , Rob Rackstraw
  • Network : PBS
  • Genre : Kids' Animation
  • Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Adventures
  • Character Strengths : Perseverance
  • TV rating : TV-Y
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025
Show more

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Bob the Builder

Suggest an Update

Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy . Bob the Builder Poster Image

What to Watch Next

See all

Best Preschool TV Shows

See all

Educational TV Shows for Kids

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

  • Perseverance
  • Cars & Trucks
  • Transportation
  • Adventures

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate

Tag » How Old Is Bob The Builder