Circle Square - Grindle Time (S1E31)
When everyone else embarks on a big holiday, Grindle opts to instead stay behind on the island.
| Runtime (min) | 7 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2022-04-17 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| Network(s) | 5 |
Storyline
In this episode of Circle Square, the island community prepares for a big holiday celebration that involves everyone traveling away from their usual home. Excitement builds as friends and neighbors pack their belongings and make plans for the festive trip. Grindle, however, makes an unexpected choice: rather than joining the group, he decides to remain behind on the island by himself.
The episode explores Grindle's experience of solitude as he navigates the quiet, empty spaces that are usually filled with activity and companionship. While his friends are away enjoying their holiday, Grindle discovers what it means to have the island to himself. The story examines his reasons for staying behind and what he learns from this time alone, offering a gentle look at independence, personal choice, and the value of both community and solitude.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn that it's okay to make choices that differ from what everyone else is doing. Grindle's decision to stay behind while others go on holiday demonstrates that personal preferences matter and that choosing differently doesn't mean something is wrong. This helps children understand that they don't always have to follow the crowd and that their individual needs and desires are valid.
The episode also introduces young viewers to the concept of solitude and self-reliance. By watching Grindle spend time alone on the island, children can see that being by yourself isn't necessarily lonely or frightening—it can be a time for reflection, independence, and self-discovery. This can help reduce anxiety about being alone and build confidence in their ability to entertain themselves.
Additionally, the story touches on respecting others' choices. The way Grindle's friends respond to his decision models how to accept that people have different preferences and comfort levels. Children learn that friendship means supporting each other's choices even when they don't fully understand them, fostering empathy and respect for individual differences.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why does Grindle choose to stay behind instead of going on the holiday with everyone else? | The episode presents Grindle's choice as a personal preference rather than a problem to be solved. He simply feels more comfortable staying on the island during this particular occasion. The story respects his decision without framing it as antisocial or wrong, showing children that it's acceptable to opt out of group activities sometimes when it feels right for you, as long as the choice is made thoughtfully. |
| Is this episode appropriate for children who experience separation anxiety? | The episode handles solitude gently and may actually help children who struggle with being alone. Grindle's experience shows that time by yourself can be manageable and even peaceful. However, parents know their child best—if your child is currently working through significant separation anxiety, you might want to watch together and discuss Grindle's feelings and coping strategies as they unfold on screen. |
| Does the episode suggest that staying home alone is always a good choice? | The episode focuses on Grindle's specific situation and personal choice rather than making a broad statement about solitude versus participation. It doesn't suggest children should regularly avoid social activities or that isolation is preferable to community. Instead, it acknowledges that sometimes individuals need different things, and that's okay. The context makes clear this is an occasional, thoughtful choice rather than a pattern of withdrawal. |
| What does Grindle actually do while everyone is away? | The episode shows Grindle engaging with the quiet island environment in his own way. Rather than depicting boredom or loneliness as problems, the story presents his solo time as an opportunity for him to experience his surroundings differently. The specific activities reflect the show's gentle pace and focus on simple, contemplative moments rather than high-energy entertainment. |
| Will this episode make my child want to skip family activities or holidays? | The episode is unlikely to inspire children to avoid family events. Grindle's choice is presented within a specific context that differs from typical family situations. Most children naturally enjoy celebrations and togetherness. If the episode does spark questions, it offers a good opportunity to discuss the difference between occasional alone time and regular family traditions, and why both community and personal space have their place. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Duster the dog's pyjamas are accidentally destroyed by Vanessa. It's a race against the sunset to find some that match up to Duster's high expectations. |
| 1 | 2 | Tuft Owl wants to make a portrait of her father. Vanessa enlists the help of the wizards, Isabella the bear and Grindle to make paintings, photos and sculptures. |
| 1 | 3 | Caylee can't find her toy armadillo in the Ruffles' house. Vanessa enlists the help of some super-cleaners for help find the toy. |
| 1 | 4 | Shy yeti Grindle is trying to get to sleep, but some of his neighbours are making a lot of noise, so Vanessa the dragon tries to help him find the courage to speak up. |
| 1 | 5 | Wizard Gwen wants to top up her pocket money for a special purchase, so she runs a bric-a-brac sale with her brother Ben. |
| 1 | 6 | When the neighbours are enjoying a boat trip, the fog moves in. Vanessa the dragon rushes back to switch on her lighthouse but it fails to shine. |
| 1 | 7 | Keys has promised a new song to Radio Wyndley, but hasn't left herself much time to write it. She's low on ideas so visits her neighbours for inspiration. |
| 1 | 8 | Vanessa the dragon is looking forward to some personal time to fix up the lighthouse, but her neighbours are also in need of her assistance. |
| 1 | 9 | Douglas Pine is under pressure to win the sunflower growing contest, but he hasn't been listening to his grandfather's top growing hints. He looks for a handy shortcut to success. |
| 1 | 10 | Isabella the bear wants to find an exercise that suits her. She heads off with Vanessa to find inspiration with their neighbours. |
| 1 | 11 | Duster the dog's kennel is taken for repairs and he's left with a bland replacement. Vanessa appeals to their neighbours to find ways to make his new abode more homely. |
| 1 | 12 | It's Bestest Book Day but book lover Grindle the yeti isn't coming to the big event for some reason. Vanessa and the kids go to investigate and find book day outfit inspiration. |
| 1 | 13 | Tommy the drum and Keys the keyboard disagree on the ending of a song and break up their band. Tommy goes solo while Keys looks for a new bandmate around the island. |
| 1 | 14 | Wizarding architect Dilys is designing a new magical tower, but also writing a scroll to granny, cooking buns, magically watering houseplants and now she's got hiccups too. |
| 1 | 15 | Caylee wants to organise a surprise birthday for yeti Grindle. With Vanessa and Ma Ruffle's help she organises a big, bold, brash birthday celebration just the way she likes it. |
| 1 | 16 | Isabella the bear and Vanessa discover an old treasure map left by Isabella s adventuring mother. They follow the clues around the island, picking up helpers along the way. |
| 1 | 17 | Dustin finds a teddy bear, Mr Hugglesworth, and claims it as his own, not knowing that it actually belongs to one of his neighbours. |
| 1 | 18 | Gwen s mum Kira Kazam takes Gwen and Ben on a camping trip, but Kira s expert wizarding skills threaten to ruin the experience for the kids. |
| 1 | 19 | Tommy decides he needs a new look, but he s soon trying on a new personality along with a new outfit. |
| 1 | 20 | Daddy Dillydally may be a wizard of a cook, but he doesn t eat enough veggies! Vanessa takes him on a culinary tour of the island to discover just how tasty veggies can be. |
| 1 | 21 | Nelson Pine shows his neighbours around a long forgotten part of the greenhouse. But when he loses his way, he's too proud to accept their help. |
| 1 | 22 | Snowdon Owl is anxious about the family trip to Funfair Island. He's not a fan of the big rides, but doesn't want to admit either. |
| 1 | 23 | Wizard Ben is super excited to get his new rollerskates, but then worries about falling over, so Vanessa steps in to help. |
| 1 | 24 | Ma Ruffle has an audition for a role with a famous director! Her friends help her to practice for the audition. |
| 1 | 25 | Teacher Pa Ruffle has forgotten to book the school trip to Dinosaur Island! But perhaps there's more prehistory right here on their own Island than he realised. |
| 1 | 26 | Duster the dog's cousin Barrel comes to visit the island. But he finds Duster's neighbours a real bother and persuades a reluctant Duster to lead a more solitary life. |
| 1 | 27 | Alba Owl feels overwhelmed by the climate emergency. Vanessa and little Tuft Owl accompany her on a visit to their neighbours to see what local changes can make a difference. |
| 1 | 28 | Tuft Owl and Vanessa have a spooky mystery to solve on the island! A Spooky Cheese may be haunting the neighbours. |
| 1 | 29 | Baljit the lion comes to celebrate Diwali with his friends on Circle Square Island. |
| 1 | 30 | Snowdon Owl is worried his police detective skills are rusty. But then Duster the dog's pizza goes missing, so Snowdon and his assistant, Vanessa the dragon, try to find it. |
| 1 | 31 | When everyone else embarks on a big holiday, Grindle opts to instead stay behind on the island. |
| 1 | 32 | Isabella the bear, adventurer, and author, is supposed to be running a creative writing workshop for the children. However, she's run out of ideas. |
| 1 | 33 | Duster wants to sing with the island choir, but he doesn't have the patience to practice. |
| 1 | 34 | Vanessa loses a suitcase in the sea so goes on an underwater search with Grindle. |
| 1 | 35 | Douglas Pine wants to win a race at the wizards' magic sports day, but he won't listen to any advice. |
| 1 | 36 | Tommy the drum is babysitting Caylee Ruffle, but calming people down isn't his speciality! |
| 1 | 37 | Dub comes to visit the island. She has something important to tell Keys, but wants to find the best way to say it. |
| 1 | 38 | Vanessa is doing a sponsored silence, but really needs to tell her friends something important. |
| 1 | 39 | Gwen Dillydally uses magic to run the island's shop, but soon the products are all magically floating away! |
| 1 | 40 | Nelson Pine feels bah-humbug about Christmas, especially because he's a Christmas tree and people expect him to dress up in baubles and tinsel. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.