Understanding

Smiles and laughter all day

When Anne Wood and Andy Davenport set out to create the Teletubbies, they wanted it to make children laugh. That's why falling over, making a mess, weird noises and madcap chases are such important parts of the show.

There is a serious side to being funny, of course. Time and again, research has shown that laughter is a vital tool for engaging and developing a young child's thought processes. Something a grown-up might find silly is actually helping a child make sense of a situation.

Falling over, making a mess, weird noises and madcap chases are such important parts of the show.

Not convinced? Well, the best way to understand what's going on is by watching Teletubbies with a child. If you do, you'll quickly see that children and the Teletubbies are actually involved in a hilarious and imaginative conversation. Spend some time watching and you might even find yourself laughing along.

By making the show funny, Anne and Andy also wanted to build a bond of trust and love between the Teletubbies and their audience. This in turn encourages children to join in with games, songs and dances. That's good for their confidence and their physical well-being.