If you were a parent in the late 90s, you remember the chaos. Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po weren't just characters on a screen; they were a legitimate cultural takeover. But among the endless plush dolls and custard-related merchandise, something else emerged that feels like a fever dream now. I’m talking about Go Exercise with the Teletubbies. It sounds like a joke. It isn't. Released in 1999, this VHS—and eventually DVD—was a genuine attempt to get toddlers moving through the sheer, hypnotic power of Teletubbyland.
It’s bizarre. Honestly, watching it back today feels like witnessing a slow-motion experiment in child psychology.
The video wasn't just a random episode of the show. It was a structured, 45-minute workout designed specifically for kids who were barely old enough to walk without wobbling. You’ve got the iconic sun baby giggling at the start, and then it dives straight into the "Ready, Steady, Go!" routine. Most fitness videos for adults focus on calorie burn or "getting shredded." This one? It focused on jumping, stretching, and not falling over.
What Actually Happens in the Video?
Let’s be real. The Teletubbies aren’t exactly peak athletes. They are giant, pear-shaped costumes with antennas. Seeing Tinky Winky try to touch his toes is a masterclass in physical limitation. The video is essentially a compilation of the characters doing basic movements, interspersed with real-life footage of kids in parks or playgrounds doing the same.
It’s repetitive. Very repetitive.
But that was the point. Child development experts like those at the BBC knew that toddlers learn through imitation and repetition. The "Go" aspect of the title refers to a specific segment where the Teletubbies encourage the audience to stand up and follow along. They do the "Teletubbies Shake." They do "Follow the Leader." They even do a segment called "Tummy Tales" which, while not strictly a workout, keeps the engagement high enough so the kid doesn't wander off to find a crayon to eat.
✨ Don't miss: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
The Science (Sorta) Behind Toddler Fitness
Is it a real workout? No. Not for an adult. But for a two-year-old? It’s actually decent motor skill development.
Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics has long suggested that "active play" is the most critical form of exercise for preschoolers. Go Exercise with the Teletubbies tapped into that before the "Goldilocks" era of screen time—before we all got terrified of iPads. It wasn't about weight; it was about proprioception. That's a fancy word for knowing where your body is in space. When Po jumps, the kid jumps. When Dipsy waves his arms, the kid tries to do the same without hitting the coffee table.
Anne Wood, the co-creator of the show, was always adamant that the Teletubbies were meant to reflect the behavior of children themselves. They speak like toddlers. They move like toddlers. So, when you ask a child to go exercise with the Teletubbies, you aren't asking them to follow a trainer; you're asking them to play with their peers.
Why It Became a Cult Classic for Parents
Parents loved it for one reason: it was a babysitter that didn't just sit the kid in a chair. It was active distraction.
I talked to a few people who grew up on this. One guy, now in his mid-20s, told me he distinctly remembers the "Ready, Steady, Go!" song being the highlight of his morning. He didn't know he was "exercising." He thought he was just being a Teletubby. That’s the magic trick of the whole production. It removed the "work" from "workout."
🔗 Read more: Ashley My 600 Pound Life Now: What Really Happened to the Show’s Most Memorable Ashleys
The production quality is exactly what you’d expect from 1999 BBC. It’s colorful, slightly grainy, and features that weirdly catchy, synthesized music that stays in your head for three days. You know the one. The upbeat, repetitive tune that plays while they run around the grassy hills of the set in Warwickshire.
The Criticisms and the "Teletubby Effect"
Not everyone was a fan. Some child psychologists at the time worried that the show—and its spin-off media—was too "brain-numbing." They argued the lack of complex language was a step backward. However, defenders pointed out that the physical engagement in Go Exercise with the Teletubbies was a direct answer to the "couch potato" concerns of the 90s.
It’s a weird middle ground. On one hand, it’s a TV show. On the other, it’s an interactive physical tool.
If you try to find it now, you’re mostly looking at used eBay listings or grainy YouTube uploads. The original VHS is a relic. But the legacy remains. You can see the DNA of this video in modern hits like CoComelon or Blippi, where the host constantly tells the kid to "get up and dance." The Teletubbies just did it first, and they did it while wearing 30-pound animatronic suits in the English summer heat.
The Most Famous Segments
There are a few parts of the video that everyone seems to remember.
💡 You might also like: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
- The Follow the Leader Sequence: This is where the Teletubbies walk in a line. It’s supposed to teach coordination and rhythm.
- The Jumping Game: Simple. Tinky Winky jumps. The kids at home jump. It goes on for what feels like an eternity.
- The Stretching: Probably the most "fitness-like" part of the whole thing. It’s basically a toddler version of yoga, minus the Zen and plus a lot of "Eh-oh!"
It’s easy to mock it now. We live in an era of Peloton and high-intensity interval training. But for a generation of kids, this was their first introduction to the idea that moving your body was fun. It wasn't a chore. It wasn't gym class. It was just part of the day.
How to Revisit It Today
If you’re feeling nostalgic or—heaven forbid—you actually want to use this with a kid today, you have to manage your expectations.
- Digital Archiving: Most of the original 45-minute workout has been sliced up on the official Teletubbies YouTube channel. You can find "Exercise with the Teletubbies" playlists that stitch it back together.
- Space Matters: If you’re actually letting a toddler do this, clear the floor. The Teletubbies encourage a lot of spinning. Toddlers plus spinning plus sharp corners equals a bad Tuesday.
- Join In: Honestly, the best way to make this work is to do it with them. It looks ridiculous. You will feel silly. But that’s the whole point of the show’s philosophy.
The phenomenon of Go Exercise with the Teletubbies is a capsule of a very specific time in media history. It was a time when we were just starting to figure out how to make television interactive without it being a video game. It’s loud, it’s brightly colored, and it’s undeniably effective at what it sets out to do.
Actionable Takeaways for Modern Parents
Don't just turn on the TV and walk away. If you’re looking to replicate the "Go Exercise" vibe in 2026, here is how you actually make it useful for a child’s development:
- Use the "Imitation Rule": Toddlers don't follow instructions; they follow movements. Instead of saying "stretch your arms," do it yourself while the show is on. They will mirror you way faster than they'll listen to the TV.
- Cap the Time: The original video was 45 minutes, which is a lot for a toddler's attention span. Break it into 10-minute bursts of activity.
- Focus on Gross Motor Skills: Look for the parts of the video that involve "big" movements—climbing, jumping, swinging arms. These are the building blocks for sports and coordination later in life.
- Watch for Overstimulation: The music and colors are designed to be high-energy. If your kid starts getting "wired" instead of "active," it’s time to hit pause and transition to something quiet like drawing.
At the end of the day, Go Exercise with the Teletubbies wasn't trying to create Olympic athletes. It was trying to make sure that the "Tummy Tele" generation didn't forget how to use their legs. It’s a piece of nostalgic kitsch now, but for a few years in the late 90s, it was the most popular gym in the world—and the membership fee was just one Tubby Toast.