A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Past…Present…and Future!!

Since this is my last blog for the semester, I thought it might be nice to just think about how children’s television has changed over the years. Looking back on the shows that were popular when I was a kid…I have to say I’m a little disappointed by many of the shows out there today. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like there was a lot more creativity behind the shows that I loved watching when I was little. Let me explain what I mean.

When you look at the shows on TV nowadays for kids to watch you’ll find that a majority of the shows are animated. Now, there is nothing wrong with animation…goodness knows I love a good animated movie from Disney any day of the week, but when you look at the shows that were on air in the late 80’s and 90’s the shows just had so much more creativity behind them. For example, take a look at some of the shows I have already talked about like Mister Rogers, Sesame Street, Lamp Chop, and Eureeka’s Castle. One thing all of these shows have in common is that they involve puppets. Now, I’m not just saying this because I made a children’s show with puppets, but I just think that those kind of shows incorporate so much imagination behind them. When I think back to Eureeka’s Castle and I look at all of the variety of characters and the puppet design I am amazed. You think that each one of those puppets had to be imagined by someone and created by hand. This summer I read a book about how Sesame Street got started, and one thing that really stuck out to me was how many of the puppeteers for the show said that it wasn’t until after they put the puppet on or started playing with it that they were able to come up with a personality for it…each puppet had a specific personality that only a certain puppeteer could help bring to life. It’s almost out of this world. Another show that I remember watching, but didn’t get to blog about was Zoobaleezoo. This show was pretty much live actors dressed up in animal outfits who sang and danced. I remember I loved this show because not only was the music and dancing great, but the costumes were so elaborate and beautiful…I always wanted to be the pink Kangaroo!!

It just seems like each of the shows back then were each so unique and different from the others. For example, Sesame Street and Mister Rogers both had educational purposes behind them and involved a massive amount of research, but they were so different in the topics they covered and even the design of the puppets. The important thing is that both were successful and taught the kids so much. I feel like today there is so much discretion over what can or should be addressed in children’s television that many of the shows have become much of the same thing only different characters. (I’m still mad that they made Cookie Monster stop eating cookies!!)

I will admit that there are some really cute shows out there today that are unique and teach kids valuable lessons. Charlie and Lola is probably my favorite. I love how they capture the magic of the imagination and show the importance of getting along with your siblings or other children. Wonder Pets with it’s unique form of animation and lessons about teamwork is another show that is working its way into my heart. I just feel that kids need and deserve a wide variety of choices if they are going to watch TV. They need shows that will not only help them in school and in society, but that will also help them develop their imaginations into powerful tools they can continue to use as they journey through life. Hopefully one day I’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the magical world of children’s television, but for now I’ll keep on the look out for more exciting new shows and keep you updated as well!!! Thanks for reading, and have a very happy holiday season!!

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Zuko…the Bo…and Me!!! (My Show!!)

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers-early elementary school
Episode Length (Pilot): 17 minutes


Well…it’s been two long semesters, countless hours of work (which I’m not even going to attempt to calculate the actual number), but I can honestly say that all of the stress and anxiety was totally worth it. To be able to sit in the front of Mueller Theatre in McKelvey and see my show on a big screen, to see Zuko’s head come up and see talk to a real audience (not just me from a computer screen) was the coolest feeling I think I have ever experienced. At that moment I felt so proud I can’t even begin to express how I felt.

It was a long journey, but the road to Zuko…the Bo…and Me taught me a lot about children’s television and creating TV shows in general. First, there is a lot to think about. Right from the beginning I had to decide what I wanted the show to focus on and make sure that I could keep it simple enough for an audience consisting of 3 and 4 year-olds. That’s hard to do considering that it’s been how many years since I was that age myself. It really helped to watch other children shows to see how they set-up their shows and how in depth they go. Since I had a lot of problems starting school when I was young I felt that would be the best topic for my show to focus on. I understood how scary it could be for kids and could incorporate my own experiences. When writing I also wanted to make sure the dialogue stayed conversational and natural. It really helped that my brother and sister had been talking in these voices for so many years because I could just think of how I would talk to them any other time and that was what I would write. I’m really proud of how natural the dialogue in the show came out. Even in the scenes with my parents, it never sounds like anyone is reading from a script or memorized anything. Its like we’re actually having those conversations in real life. The puppets are addressed and treated as if they we’re real children.

Working with puppets I had to figure out how I wanted to film the show. Since the puppeteers can’t be seen by the audience, you have to have them behind something or below the camera far enough so they won’t be seen in the shot. That was difficult to arrange since there are so many different height between everyone involved in the show. Eventually, I decided on a kind of classic puppet show set-up where the puppeteers are behind the puppet stage…only the stage is actually one of the beds you’d find in a nurse’s office. Then I would be situated in front of the bed where I could look at and talk to Zuko and Bo. That is one thing I really like about working with puppets, you have so much opportunity to think outside of the box when it comes to set-design and filming. For example, we needed to have the puppets moving along with my dad and me during the school tour and it couldn’t be done with Adam and Ashley on their knees, so we got some gym class roller carts and Adam and Ashley rolled around on those. It really worked well and you can’t even tell that’s how it was done.

Another part of the show I am really proud of is the montage of student interviews from my dad’s school. All of the kids I talked to were so polite and so articulate…I was so impressed. They really gave me some fantastic stories and comments about school and how they first felt that it gave the show an even greater level of authenticity. It gives it another level that the audience can connect with and see that it really is perfectly normal to be afraid of starting school…grown-ups don’t just say that.

Zuko…the Bo…and Me has probably been my favorite project that I have ever done!! Throughout the entire two semesters of research and work there was never a time when I got tired of it or wished I had chose a different project. I do admit I got a little stressed here and there (as my family and friends can testify I’m sure), but in the end it was completely and 100% worth it. I am so proud of how the show turned out and so happy with the way it flows from one conversation to another, and one scene to the next. Of course, there are a few things I might change if I could do it over (like using a mixer for the sound) but none the less I am very proud of my show and extremely grateful to all who helped!!!

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Now Mom and Dad!!

The last two people I would like to say thank you to are my parents. There are many reasons I feel I owe them a lot, for example if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t even be here, I wouldn’t be in college, and I wouldn’t have had any of the experiences that inspired and influenced Zuko…the Bo…and Me!!!

Aside from those facts, there are still more reasons to thank them. First of all, if it weren’t for my mom I never would have even thought to make a children’s show based on our cats. It was my mom who thought it would be a good idea since my brother and sister do the voices all the time and other people would probably find them just as entertaining as we do.

Next I want to thank both my mom and my dad for all the advice they gave throughout these past two semesters. When my professor capstone said we should have mentor(s) for our projects I immediately thought of my parents. My Dad is an Elemetary school principal and my mom is a music teacher, so who better to ask about what they think would work for children than people who are with children all day long. I also asked Dr. Mandy Medvin who is the chair of the Psychology department here at Westminster and specializes in Early Childhood Development and she gave me some great advice as well, but it was nice to go to my parents who I could talk to at any time of the day or night and get their opinion of things. I would constantly have them read over my scripts in the summer time and ask them if things made sense or if it was too confusing for kids to understand. I really trust them to tell me the truth about what I come up with and know that they know what they are talking about. I think we’re all used to it since they constantly read my papers throughout high school. They care so much about education and children that I knew that whatever they said would only make the show more effective for the audience.

I also would like thank my dad for letting me use his school for my show. This was really important because since we were using puppets I wasn’t completely sure where we could film that would work so you wouldn’t see my brother and sister controlling the puppets. I changed my mind from so many different locations from my apartment living room, to our living room at home, and then finally the place we ended up using, the nurse’s office at my dad’s school. It was very last minute, but we made it work and I thank my dad for finding the space to film in. My dad also rounded up some of his students that I interviewed for the show about their experiences in school to give the show something extra to make it useful to young children and families. To be able to use a real school in the show in my opinion takes to a whole other level that brings it closer to being like a professional production rather than something teenagers make for their high school English class.

Finally, I want to thank my parents for being such wonderful actors in the show. When I decided that I wanted to have a tour of the school with the principal and a meeting with Bo’s teacher, I knew my parents would be the best people for the roles. That’s exactly what they are. They brought so much realness to the show and such authentic concern that Bo feel more comfortable with starting school that watching the show you know they care. I also loved that when you watch the show they don’t sound like they are talking to puppets, it sounds like they’re talking to real children (I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that they’ve been reacting to Zuko and Bo’s personalities for the past 8 years). It sounds exactly how I wanted it to sound and I am just so grateful to for that.

So once again…thank you, thank you, thank you mom and dad!!!!! Thank you for all the support and encouragement you have given me over the past year and my entire life. You have always believed in me and everything I work for and I really, truly appreciate all the love you have given me!!!!

Thank You So Much!!

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: My Wonderful Puppets and Puppeteers!!!

Today I would like to take a little bit of time to say thank you to two people who without their help Zuko…the Bo…and Me!! would never have happened. Actually, I should really be thanking two people and two cats. If you don’t remember, my children’s show Zuko…the Bo…and Me!!! was inspired by my family’s two house cats Zuko and Angus (Bo). Without those two adorable creatures I don’t know that I would have ever even thought that creating a children’s show for my capstone project would be possible…or at least not a smart choice. However, we do have the cats and I also have two very crazy yet brilliant siblings who from the day we had the cats gave them very distinct personalities and voices.

Soon it will be a year from the day my mom mentioned the idea of creating a show out of the cats. I thought she was crazy. I thought to myself, “how would you even begin to try to pull such a project off?” Then I thought about it some more, and eventually it became the project I just had to do. No documentary or any other idea would ever come close to being as creative and as fun as making a children’s show out of our cats. So that’s what I did. Now it’s almost a year later and the show is finally done!!! It was a long process and filled with tones of research, writing, rewriting, filming, and editing and a ton of stress all in a pretty short time period. Now that I can breathe again, I am so proud of my show and so amazingly grateful to everyone who helped me.

As I said before, I would like to take this time to thank my brother and sister for their help with all of the puppetry and character voices. There wasn’t too much I asked them to change from how they normally portray the cats besides toning some of the attitude down in Zuko’s case and toning Bo’s voice down (usually it is a horrible high pitch scream). They worked so hard and listened so well to what I asked them to do. Of course, that’s not say they didn’t have any fun with the characters. There were so many times during filming when I had to remind them that we very tight on filming time because they would just go on with random conversations in the cat voices or make the puppets do very random things like hold a stuffed cat holding the mic (microphone cat) and make him sing. They really helped keep things on the lighter side which helped especially when I started getting stressed.

I also want to say thank you for all the random positions I put them in. For example, they spent most of their time lying on the floor in the school’s nurses’ office with one arm in the air holding up the puppets. I know that could not have been easy or clean, especially for my brother is about 6’. They also have to roll around in the hallways on carts you find in elementary school gym classes in order for the puppets to appear to be walking along during the school tour. And all this had to be done while also making sure they were low enough so that they themselves could not be seen in the camera. I know that could not have been easy and once again I want to say thank you for being such wonderful and obliging siblings. I’m sure most would not take that kind of time and energy to help their little sister graduate from college…so thank you…I love you…and owe you big time!! J

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Not as Easy as It Looks!! 

Watching children shows involving puppets like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, the people on camera and behind the scenes make everything look so easy. Believe me, it’s not as easy as it looks. After making my children show pilot for my capstone project I found that it’s a huge undertaking.

First, let me just say, I wish I could see the set of Sesame Street and how they have it designed to hide the puppeteers. I know for Mister Rogers he has set pieces he could stand behind, but with Sesame Street the puppets are on the same level for the most part with the humans, so the puppeteers have to be below. For my show, Zuko…the Bo…and Me!! our bedroom set was the nurses office at my dad’s school. We used one of the nurses beds, a shelf from my dad’s office, a lamp, some toys, and very limited space. What made the set-up of the room even harder was that we had to make sure we didn’t get the curtains that go between the beds in any of the shots. Also, the bed itself could only go up so far which meant that my puppeteers (my brother and sister Adam and Ashley) spent most of their time lying on the floor with their arms in the air behind the bed. With all of these factors there was really one way to set up the room to get the right wide shot for the show.

I would like to take this time to thank one of my best friends, Lori who helped me out majorly by filming most of the show for since I was in a good portion of it. She put up with all of the craziness that my family and I dished out and really did a wonderful job of filming the show. I had such a variety of shots to work with. Some my favorite shots are the close-ups. Between Lori’s filming and Adam and Ashley’s puppetry they are some of the funniest shots and really make the show something special.

I would also like to know how the puppets on Sesame Street walk or move around the set. For my show, many of the scenes during the school tour required having the puppets move into the shot. To do this we used the little carts that are used in gym class. The carts actually worked really well, but once again I have send out a huge thank you to Lori…I know it was not easy to follow us around and make sure everyone was in the shot, could be seen, and that the shot looked good and would work for the show. There were so many levels of height to keep track of…you had my dad who is pretty tall…my mom and myself are about the same height at about 5’5’’…and them the puppets of course were down lower because Adam and Ashley were on the ground trying to keep their heads and arms out of view. It was a lot to think about and to watch out for. In the end the show turned out wonderful and demonstrated a variety of shots and angles and just a load of fun. So once again, Thank You Lori…for putting up with all the craziness and chaos that was the making of Zuko…the Bo…and Me!!!!

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Wonder Pets

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 Minutes
Schedule: Nick Jr. weekdays at 1:30 pm

A couple of years ago my older brother and mom got hooked on a new children’s show called Wonder Pets. At first I was very hesitant about what I thought about the show…it seemed a little weird. To see oddly animated animals flying around in a boat singing and helping other animals just didn’t really appeal to me. Then, as it usually happens, I watched the show more and more while at home and found that while Wonder Pets can get on my nervous after long periods of time, it is a pretty unique and even cute show.

Wonder Pets is a show about three small classroom pets who travel around the world to help other small animals who need rescuing or help solving different problems. The three main characters include Linny (a guinea pig), Ming-Ming (a duckling), and Tuck (a turtle). Each one has a different personality and different strengths that they contribute to the group. Linny tends to be the leader of the group and helps the other two decide what should be done. My favorite is Ming-Ming; she’s really funny because although she loves to help others, she can also have a real attitude about her. In one episode she and Tuck get into an argument that goes on for most of the episode. Of course, they resolve their differences, but I think the attitude and disputes they have add a little bit of reality to the show. Kids won’t always agree on things and fights will happen, but the important thing is that they resolve any problems they do have. Tuck is also very cute and smart. As I stated above, each episode consists of the Wonder Pets traveling around to help other animals in need. They don’t have any super powers, but what they do have can be even more powerful: Teamwork!! They even have a song they sing when they first head out on their mission. Music is a big part of the show, its actually almost a mini-opera, but the music is very simple so kids can easily sing along. Each episode revolves around the goal to teach the audience the importance of teamwork, as well as teaching problem-solving skills and appreciation of music.

What makes this show different then all of the other shows out there besides the freshness and realness of the characters and the creative musical numbers is the style in which the show is filmed. The show uses photo-puppetry animation. Basically this means that instead of the show just being your typical animation, the animators manipulate photos of real animals to appear to be talking and singing and moving all over the place. Its actually really cool when you think about it, kids are seeing real animals and real environments that the animals live in, but you don’t have to worry about the fakeness of computer animation. It takes the realness of the show to a whole other level and is a sight to see. It’s a really creative and cute show that whether you like it or not you find yourself falling for these crazy adorable characters and singing along about the importance of team work!!

For more info on Wonder Pets visit:

http://www.nickjr.com/wonder-pets/

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Caillou

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 minutes
Schedule: PBS weekdays at 2:00pm

I like to think that I am fairly easy to please when it comes to children’s television. There aren’t many shows out there that I have seen that don’t overall have more good qualities than bad. However there is one show that just kind of annoys me a lot. It’s another one of the ones that my family started watching at the beach. The show is called Caillou.

Caillou is an animated show about a little boy who is about 4 years old and has a very big imagination. Now hopefully by now you have read enough of my posts to know that I am all about imagination and thinking creatively, this show just annoys me a little too much. What bothers me is how bratty Caillou can act at times. I understand that he’s 4 years old and so kids at that age are going to misbehave or act selfishly at times, but I’m sorry he just wines a little too much. Also, in other shows when there is a character that acts out or doesn’t demonstrate the best behavior, there is usually another character who balances it out. In Caillou there really isn’t a balancing character. Caillou has a little sister Rosie, bbut she doesn’t really talk and isn’t always involved in the plot. Also, I feel like Caillou’s parents don’t always do a very good job of correcting Caillou when he is misbehaving. Eventually he learns his lesson, but it’s just not done as well or as effectively as on some other shows.

On the bright side, I will say that kids can learn from Caillou. His stories do have lessons behind them like sharing, or having patience in trying times. Even if you just want to be entertained, Caillou can also succeed in that area. It also uses a mix of animation and puppets. Each episode consists of 2 stories and in between each story is a puppet segment with puppet versions of Caillou’s cats. It’s nice and also gives some variety. There is also usually a segment in the show that shows real kids participating in an activity highlighted in the show.

So although I find Caillou himself extremely annoying, after thinking about it a bit more I guess I do have to admit that the show does have some really nice aspect in it like the variety of formats or styles and a nice balance between imagination in the animated story and the real life glimpse of kids doing their thing. It’s a little bit of all types of children’s television mixed in one.

To find out more about Caillou visit: http://pbskids.org/caillou/index.html

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Eureeka’s Castle

Target Audience: Preschool-Early Elementary School
Episode length: 30 mins
Schedule: Unfortunately no longer on air L

This one is for my roommates. As I was talking with them about this blog and what I would talk about next, they brought up a classic show from our childhood that unfortunately is no longer on TV anymore…Eureeka’s Castle. As I thought about the show I realized that it would be a great show to discuss because of the creativity and style behind it.

If you’re not familiar with or don’t remember Eureeka’s Castle, it was a children’s show that aired on Nickelodeon back in the 90’s. Created in 1989, Eureeka’s Castle told of the adventures of characters who lived inside a wind-up music box castle. The castle itself was owned by a giant who would open each episode with a theme song that introduced each of the characters. The characters included Eureeka, a young sorceress in training; Magellan, a dragon; the Moat Twins Bogge and Quagmire; and Batly, and very arrogant bat. The interesting thing about this show, and what makes it so cool is the fact that all of the characters are puppets. The show itself is a mix of puppet set and animation. For example, the Moat Twin’s lair has an animated moat, while the rest is a set.

Eureeka’s Castle is educational but maybe not quite in the same way as Sesame Street or Mister Rogers. It main purpose seems to be to entertain, but can also educate the audience through the stories each episode tells. For example, I was able to find on episode on google videos, titled “Nightmare on Magellan Street.” I’m actually not sure if it was actually one of the regular episodes or a special, but either way I think it gives a good idea of what the show was like. In the show Eureeka is telling Magellan and the Moat Twins a bedtime story when Batly comes crashing in telling a scary story about a monster. This gets Magellan all scared, then he sees a monster outside his window. At first nobody believes him. Eureeka and one of the other characters Mr. Knack tell him to stay calm and everything will be fine…then they see the monster too. It’s actually a very scary monster…it’s blue, green, purple and many other colors and looks a lot like a spider (which I hate). So naturally everyone in Eureeka’s Castle is scared of the monster until they find out why he is there…he just wants to hear the end of the story Eureeka had been telling about Fluffy…it turns out his name is Fluffy too!!

It’s a really cute story that tells kids it normal to be scared…even monsters get scared sometimes…but if you stay calm everything will be fine. The show also incorporates a lot of other great qualities to the show. The music for one thing is really cute and catchy. When Batly comes in at the beginning of the show he sings a song about a “Scary, Scary Monster.” Each character also has a different personality. Eureeka acts more as the adult of the group who keeps the twins in line and helps Magellan with problems. Magellan reminds me a lot of Big Bird, so you can guess what he’s like. Batly is a little mischievous and thinks very highly of himself. Each character gives way to different lessons children can learn from the show.

Eureeka’s Castle was such a creative, fun and imaginative show…I’m sad to find that probably not too many people remember it and kids today don’t get to experience its magic. They really don’t make shows like that anymore and it ashame because it could teach kids so much about the power of the imagination and what they can create if they just put their mind to it.

To find out more info about Eureeka’s Castle visit:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220895/

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Barney & Friends

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 minutes
Schedule: PBS weekdays at 1:30pm

Thinking back to my early childhood days I remember there was always one particular children’s show that was constantly criticized or made fun of. For some reason it always seemed to be extremely “uncool” to enjoy watching Barney, and that often made me sad because he was one of the few shows I did watch and even had multiple stuffed animals of those characters. In my opinion it would be much worse to be a fan of the Teletubbies…you could barely understand what they were saying and what was with the giant baby-face sun? Creepy!!

Anyway, back to Barney. What was it about him that made the show so unusual? Was it the fact that he was a giant purple dinosaur that liked to sing and dance? I don’t know, but despite all of the things people may have criticized it for Barney and Friends was a show that caught the heart of most children and taught them important lessons.

Like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, Barney actually has a lot of research behind its themes and tactics for educating its audience. According to the show’s website, Barney addresses the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of children with various activities including singing, dancing, and using their imagination to solve problems. The kids learn about teamwork by working together to solve problems or play games. There could even be valuable lessons learned about being good siblings through Baby Bop and BJ.

So whether or not you think Barney is “cool” you have to admit that he does do a good job of teaching children important lessons that they can use throughout their lives. For the past 10 years Barney has been coming to life to play and teach with children and if he’s lucky (which let’s face it, he probably will be) he’ll be able to continue on for years to come.

For more info on Barney & Friends visit: http://pbskids.org/barney/index.htm

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Closer into Puppets

Last time I wrote, I discussed what I felt made puppets so special and so effective in children’s television. On reason I felt it was important to look into this is the simple fact that for my capstone project in which I am creating a children’s television show I am using puppets.

What I found was that puppets are so effective because they can be used in such different ways to represent our childhood and the curiosity and wonder that we experience each day. Through them children as well as adults an learn the proper way of behaving or that it’s ok to be afraid.

So what do I want my puppets to represent? I want my puppets Zuko and Bo (cat puppets) to represent two cat brothers who love each other, yet they are not always perfect and don’t always know what’s right. Zuko is the older brother. While he loves Bo, he also like to tease and scare him a little, as most siblings like to do. He also takes on the characteristics of a child who is not always the perfect angel. He likes to make jokes and will sometimes act out. He a little like Lady Elaine, only in cat form. The lessons he will help teach will most likely be more about learning how to behave. Bo on the other hand is the younger brother who looks up to Zuko and will usually believe anything he says. He’s shy and imaginative and could probably be most compared to Daniel the Striped Tiger. He learns lessons that deal more with feelings like being afraid or lonely and how to overcome those feelings.

When thinking about these characters you really have to keep in mind what it would be like to be a young child; the thoughts and feelings that go through the mind at those ages. Being almost 22 makes that difficult at times to remember back that far. You also have to consider that not all children have the same feelings about things and learn things in different ways, so you really need to decide how you want to portray your characters that will be able to reach the most children. For example, in my pilot episode Bo is worried about starting school for the first time. So when I was deciding what I wanted to focus on as far as why he was worried I had to consider and address multiple fears and questions that could come into a child’s mind so that I could reach as many kids as possible. So I addressed being afraid of leaving home for the first time, where Bo would go to the bathroom at school, and how would he eat if he wasn’t at home. There were also a few other concerns we discuss, but those are the major ones and they cover a wide range of fears that children could be feeling.

Puppets are important, especially for my show because they can address and resolve issues for children in ways that adults can’t. What I mean is, that while having an adult talk to you about being afraid and that it’s normal to feel that way, so see a puppet that represents a child acting that way and overcoming that fear can be so much more effective. Not only are the puppets fun to watch so they keep children’s attention longer than an adult could, they also allow children to see themselves in them and let them know that they are not alone; there are others out there that feel the same way. I hope that with my puppets and my show I can help children learn that they are not alone and that no matter what problem or fears they face, they can overcome them and everything will be alright.

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: “A Puppet-Loving World”

What makes puppets so lovable? Is it their sometimes fuzzy or furry features? Is it their sometimes over-the-top personalities? Is it their ability to take us back to our childhood and the curiosity and wonder that filled our minds?

Whatever it is that makes puppets so special, it is that trait or multiple traits that make them so essential to so many children shows. If think about the shows from your childhood the ones that tend to stick out the most that had some crazy feature that made it stand out from everyday life. Whether it was animation, or people dressed up in wild outfits, or puppets they all had something that held your curiosity and kept you watching. Its probably not a surprise then that some of the most beloved and effective educational or entertaining children shows involved puppets. The three that stand out the most in my mind are Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, and Lamb Chop’s Play-Along. Each of these shows used puppets not only to entertain children, but also to educate them and did so in very different ways.

Sesame Street’s main goal is to help children learn and grow by focusing on helping them learn their ABC’s and numbers. Each show usually tries to focus on one number and one letter that they teach through different short segments. The puppets, or muppets as they are sometimes called, are used to help teach these lessons by learning them with the audience. For example, Grover often has segments with a child or two where he’ll ask them about how they feel when they get made, he asks them questions and they respond and he learns. The humans on the show usually act as the teachers and parent figures for the puppets helping them learn.

Mister Rogers main goal is to help children by appealing to their feelings, whether it be anger, fear, or happiness he talked and sang about and made the kids feel better. One thing that I found interesting about Mister Rogers is that he believed strongly in children’s understanding of the difference between reality and imagination. That’s why he never himself went to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. However, Mister Rogers understood how important the imagination is to learning and how much children can learn from the characters in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Like Sesame Street, the Mister Rogers’ puppets took on the roles of children, even if they were a king and considered “grown-up.” They still represented one characteristic of childhood. Daniel the Striped Tiger was a child’s shyness, Lady Elaine was a child’s devious and maybe sometimes selfish side. Each puppet’s purpose was to help the audience learn from their problems and actions. The humans helped them along like parents.

Lamb Chop was just a fun show. I’m not really sure if it’s main purpose was necessarily educational, but through the character of the puppet Lamb Chop and her caretaker Sherri Lewis, children could learn how to behave properly and how to overcome fears or other problems. It was a fun show and Lamb Chop represented the perfectly rebellious and sometimes smart-mouthed child. She was so fun to watch!!

What is most interesting about these three shows is that while they all worked to educated and help children grow, each did it in a slightly different way still succeeded. Each also succeeded with different types of puppets. Sesame Street used very elaborate puppets of all different shapes and sizes with puppeteers operating in different ways. Lamb Chop for the most part was a sock puppet only I think she was made out of some kind of yarn or sweater material. Mister Rogers was the simplest form of material that came down over the hand with a plastic head on the top. The eyes didn’t move and the mouth didn’t open, but they allowed children to use their imagination and that was what was most important to Mister Rogers.

So what makes puppets so special? I think it’s their ability to capture our hearts and minds, even if its just for an hour of the day, and make our imagination take flight and learn something new.

A Closer Look into Charlie and Lola...Again :)

Rating: Tv-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins (consists of two stories)
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney 11/10c (check local listings for your area)


Last semester when I started this blog the first show I looked into was one that is particularly close to my heart…Charlie and Lola. This show…about a brother and sister and the fun lessons they share…is one of the cutest shows I have ever watched. It focuses on a lot of the issues kids go through as they grow up while also capturing the magic of the imagination and how looking at things in a different way can help a child to understand them better. One particular episode of Charlie and Lola focuses on the same issue as my capstone project…separation anxiety.

In the episode, titled “I Love Going to Granny’s and Grandpa’s, but…,” Charlie and Lola are packing to go visit their grandparents by themselves for the first time. As Charlie does his usual introduction for the show, he admits that Lola is acting a little unusual this time. Lola tells Charlie that they can’t go to Granny’s and Grandpa’s because her hula hoop won’t fit into her suitcase. Charlie tells her that they can just put it in the car. Lola then starts making up other excuses for why they can’t go, so Charlie tries reminding Lola of all the fun things they have done at Granny’s and Grandpa’s. Finally, Lola tells Charlie that she can’t go because her imaginary friend, Soren Lorenson, will miss her too much. So, Charlie tells her that she can send him a postcard and let him know what they are doing. Eventually, after a few more excuses and a private talk with Soren Lorenson, Lola confesses that the real reason she doesn’t want to go is because she is afraid she will miss her mom, dad, and Soren Lorenson too much; and sending a postcard won’t be quite enough. Charlie, being the amazing older brother that he is gives Lola a hug and tells her that it will be ok. He says that not only can she talk to everyone over the phone, but they can even pick out one thing of their mom’s and dad’s to take with them to remember them by. This of course makes Lola feel a lot better and she even decides to leaves her hula hoop behind for Soren Lorenson. The last scene of the show shows Lola outside at Granny’s and Grandpa’s house coloring a picture when Charlie comes out and tells her mom and dad are on the phone. Lola simply replies for him to tell them she says hello, but she is extremely too busy to talk right now.

What I like so much about this episode is the way it demonstrates how children will often make different excuses for why they don’t want to do something. Lola didn’t want to be away from her parents, but instead of telling Charlie that in the first place she claimed it was because her hula hoop wouldn’t fit into her suitcase, or because Soren Lorenson would miss her too much. I wasn’t until she told Charlie the truth that they were able to come up with a solution that would work. I think that happens with all of us, even as we get older. We constantly tell ourselves that we don’t want to do something for this reason or that, but it’s not until we admit the real reason that we can find a way to get over the issue. I think we’ve all had that feeling where we get a nervous when we go away from those we love for the first time. We fear losing the comfort and protection they provide. Charlie and Lola teaches us that there are many ways to over come that fear, and it can be as simple as picking out a few items that remind us of those we love. It’s a fun, imaginative episode that I think can really help kids as they grow up and travel to new and exciting places.

For more info on Charlie and Lola visit:

http://www.charlieandlola.com/
or
http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/charlieandlola/index.html

Picture found on: movie-tv-episode-database.com/.../

A Closer Look at Children’s Television: Starting School with Mister Rogers

Rating: Tv-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode length: 30 min
Channel/Schedule: PBS/WQED/ Check local listings for times

For my capstone project this semester I am focusing primarily on the separation anxiety and other fears that can arise when preschoolers begin school for the first time. So when I started doing research to see how kids react and how adults can help them through that sometimes difficult transition…who better to look to than the one man who cared and understood children more than anyone else in television and probably the world…Mister Rogers.

Not only does Mister Rogers address the feelings kids go through when they first begin school…but he spends an entire week of episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood focusing on the topic. I was lucky enough to visit the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College…where they allowed me to look through the Mister Rogers’ archives and watch some of the episodes.

Fred Rogers always approached children in the most caring and understanding way…he invited them into his home…talked with them…pretended with them…and always reminded them just how very special they are. As I sat and watched some of the “Going to School” episodes I saw many different ways to approach that topic. For example…in one episode Mister Rogers went to the elementary school he attended and was given a tour by one of the Kindergarten teachers. What I found most fascinating about this approach was how Mister Rogers seemed to react to that experience just as a child might. When he walked into the classroom he commented on how big the room was…he also asked where the bathrooms were…many of the biggest thoughts and questions that go through a child’s head when they go into a new environment. In another episode he addressed the feelings children have or had about starting school by showing a montage of interviews he did with children about their first day of school and the thoughts or fears that they experienced. During this montage you never once saw Mister Rogers… you always heard him…but the focus was always on the children. And finally… it wouldn’t be Mister Rogers if he didn’t also approach the topic through make believe. Throughout the week the characters in the Neighborhood of Make Believe decided to build a school where Prince Tuesday…Anna Platypus…and Daniel the Striped Tiger could learn. Of course…Daniel was nervous at first…but once he got there he realized how much fun school was…especially with all his friends there.

The way Mister Rogers addressed beginning school just seemed so in depth and loving. He wanted to make sure that he did everything he could to show kids that school could be a wonderful place to learn and grow and have fun. It was so fun to watch because you just see in him the wonderful curiosity that all children have. Sitting there watching him just seemed so comforting. I don’t think I have ever watched a show that worked so hard to prepare kids for the huge journey ahead of them. There was always a pureness about him that when you watched you always knew he was telling you the truth. He truly was the best friend any of us could ever have.

For more information on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood visit: http://www.fci.org/

Picture from: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/images/explore/planshow_mrrodgers.jpg

A New Semester...A Closer Look

Welcome back to another semester of A Closer Look at Children’s Television. For those of you who joined me last semester you may remember that I was using this blog as a tool to help me do some research for my senior capstone project due this semester. Each week I watched a different children’s show and wrote about the themes or issues they addressed and how they might have been special or unique. Each show was different; some were animated and some were live action, some used digital effects and some used puppets, but each one was created to not only entertain children but to help them learn and grow.

This semester of A Closer Look…I plan on continuing with my weekly children show watching…but I’ll try to look a little deeper into the issues that the shows address in each episode rather than in the show in general. I will especially be on the look out for shows that deal the fear children feel when they are away from home for the first time or when they start school…since those are the topics I focus on in my capstone. I would also like to go back in time once and a while and look back on some more of the shows my friends and I grew up on. Maybe I’ll even do a comparison…Old School Sesame Street vs. today’s Sesame Street. I would also like to invite you…the readers…to write back and let me know if there are any shows you think I should watch or any advice on what you think appeals to children when it comes to TV. I think it’s going to be a good semester!!

Til next week,

:)

Allyson

Getting’ Down with the Old School Electric Company

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschool-Elementary School
Episode Length: 30 min
Network: Unfortunately no longer on air…but available on DVD!!!!

You might have heard that earlier in the year PBS brought back the Electric Company to their line-up for educational programming. Well, so far I haven’t had the chance to catch the modernized version of the original show that aired back in 1971. Fortunately, my dad has the DVD of the original Electric Company so I’ve been watching it instead.

The Electric Company was a show created for young kids with the purpose of helping them learn to read by watching TV. It was a product of the Children’s Television Workshop, which also created Sesame Street, and used many of the same techniques. The Electric Company was a half-hour show featuring seven adults (including Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, and Judy Graubart) and a few children. Unlike Sesame Street, there were no puppets (although they would use cartoons from time to time). Each episode would usually focus on one letter. They would use multiple segments throughout the show that would find different ways to shows kids how that letter can be used or how it can sound differently when used in different words (like the letter “g” with “gym” and “gum”). They would also use entertaining ways of reinforcing these lessons. One that I really enjoyed was with Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno. Bill was a milkman training Rita on her first day of work. When they got to their first house, there was a note on the door telling them how many bottles to leave, but the “ottle” of bottle was missing leaving only the “b”, so Bill and Rita had to figure out what they had to leave. After trying out “bag” and “box,” Rita finally gave up and just left one bottle of milk.

The original Electric Company is still such a fun show to watch, but it is also still really useful. The different techniques they used could still be effective even for kids today. Obviously, talking is a big part of the show, but even the dialogue is made up of very simple sentences and phrases that are easy to understand. Also, when the characters are reading different sentences, the sentences are also written on the screen, so the audience can follow along. They take their time and sound out every part of the sentence to make sure they know what they’re reading. They also use a lot of music in the show. For example, when they were teaching how to use punctuation in sentences, they used a song to explain what punctuation is; “they are the little mark that use their influence to help a sentence make sense.” Another nice thing I found in the show was how they (maybe intentionally or unintentionally) helped the audience with their listening comprehension. At the beginning of the show, Bill Cosby, under the name Gus, went to a detective to help him figure out the missing letter in a note from his wife, Gert. They eventually figured out that the “g” was missing and that Gus needed to go get gas. Then later, at the end of the show Gus and Gert were used again in another segment about the letter “g.” It helps kids make the connection between the beginning and end of the show, and help them remember all they have learned. Finally, one my most favorite things about this show are the people on it!!!! It is so fun to turn it on and see people that you know, but wouldn’t necessarily expect to see on a children’s show. Now I know, Bill Cosby makes perfect sense, but when I found out the Morgan Freeman was on the show and was called “Easy Reader” I have to admit I kind of lost it!! Everyone on the show has so much energy and just put so much into it that you know they are having fun and believe in what they are doing. Plus, their comedic timing is fantastic. It’s really just a well made show that not only fits it’s time with the clothing and lessons it teaches, but it could also be used today (even if the fashion is a little too dated for some of the younger audience). Believe me, The Electric Company will definitely power you up!!!! J

For more info on The Electric Company visit:

http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tec/

Movin’ and Groovin’ with Imagination Movers!!

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers-grade school kids
Episode Length: 30 min
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney: weekdays at 9:30/8:30c (Check local listings)

Over the past month of watching different children television shows that are currently available to young children and comparing them to the classic shows I remember from my childhood, I have found many differences in the way they are made and the methods they use to educate and reach out to kids. At the same time however, there are also some similarities that I have noticed. Music, for example, seems to be a standard in many shows. Last week I wrote about the Little Einsteins and how they use classical music the help young kids learn. I also mentioned earlier how one of the things I remember the most from Lambchop’s Play-Along is “The Song that Never Ends.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s a person, a puppet, or cartoon doing the singing; music seems to have the best ability of reaching out to kids and getting their attention.

Recently, I’ve been watching the Imagination Movers on Playhouse Disney. The show is nothing too extravagant with giant puppets or actors dressed up like giant dinosaurs. It’s pretty much four men who work together in a factory and how they use new ideas to solve problems that arise. The Movers include Rich, Scott, Dave, and Smitty. They are also often joined by their neighbor Nina and her Uncle Knick Knock (who is extremely boring--seriously, he hates anything and everthing exciting!!) For the Imagination Movers, music is a big component of their show. They use the music they play and sing on the show to reinforce the ideas they’re using to solve their problems. For example, this morning on the show, when the guys came into the factory it was super windy. They found out that the wind was coming from their wind room (cause everyone needs a wind room) after the door was accidentally left open. To stop the extremely strong wind, the Movers along with Neighbor Nina had to find a way to close the door. After trying multiple ideas that failed to solve the problem (like lassoing the door knob and sling shooting Scott to the door) they found that if they worked together they could get the door closed. As they did this, they sang a song about working together. Of course, they also sing many other songs throughout the show including the beginning and ending theme songs.

One of the things I like the most about the Imagination Movers is that the music they play is a little more modern or contemporary than some of the other shows on Playhouse Disney. Some shows sick more to the nursery rhyme format for music, but with the Imagination Movers, it’s a little more rock and roll. Yes, the songs deal with simple ideas like working together and having fun, but the guys really seem like they’re having fun playing the music. They put so much energy into their songs that I think it would be hard for any kid to sit still while watching. They just kind of make you want to get up and move. On top entertaining the audience with the music, they also teach a lot of different lessons like working together, being understanding when someone makes a mistake, and being open to new and imaginative ideas. It’s a very fun and energetic show that exemplifies the importance of incorporating different forms of music into children’s television and the impact it can have.


If you would like to find out more about the Imagination Movers, you can visit their website at:

http://www.imaginationmovers.com/website/

or

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/imaginationmovers/index.html


Above picture from: www.songspeak.com

Listening and Learning with Little Einsteins

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins
Schedule/Network: Playhouse Disney 10:30/9:30c (check local listings)

Today, it seems like children shows have so many options in the paths they can choose from to educate their audience. Shows are finding new and interesting ways to catch children’s attention and teach them new lessons. They’re using new and fresh ideas and theories in the education world and molding them to fit the television format. A great example is Little Einsteins Playhouse Disney.

The idea behind Little Einsteins focuses on the theory that classical music can help young children develop their minds and become smarter at an earlier age. Each episode features a certain well known measure from a piece of classical music as well as a piece of art. It’s kind of similar to how Sesame Street usually focuses on one letter and one number in each show. The Little Einsteins (Leo, Annie, Quincy, and June) incorporate the music and art into the show by using them to help solve problems. For example, in one episode, the Little Einsteins were trying to get a baby tulip into springtime weather so it wouldn’t die. When they got to a point where they had to choose which path through the mountains to take, they matched the featured music (which represented spring and just happened to be Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring Allegro” from the Four Seasons) with the right path to springtime. Throughout the show the music is repeated so that the audience is able to recognize it when they need to.

The first time I heard about Little Einsteins, it sounded like it might be too sophisticated for young children. Even when I watch it now, I still think some of the things they try to teach, like what “fortissimo” means, might be a little much for small children to handle. (I can barely say the word half the time) However, sometimes kids just need to be pushed a little farther to really learn something new, and I have to respect Little Einsteins for doing that. The show really does enforce many different areas of learning and yet still keep it easy to follow. Not only do they help kids learn how to pick up beats and build an appreciation for all types of music, but it also teaches them teamwork, and how to understand and recognize what they are listening to. Another nice aspect to the show is that the Little Einsteins try to interact with the audience by asking them questions about which song is the right one, or to help them get their rocket started by clapping their hands on their laps. The show gets the audience to engage their minds and really think about what they are seeing and hearing. The music is also nice because it gives a kind of soothing effect to the show similar to the music used in Mister Rogers. I have to say that Little Einsteins is a very cute and valuable show that really does a great job of reaching out to children in fresh new ways.

If you would like to learn more about Little Einsteins you can visit:

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/littleeinsteins/index.html

or

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756522/

above picture from: disneymusic.disney.go.com

Catching Up with Old Friends: My Friends Tigger and Pooh!!

Rating: TV-Y
Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins (consists of two stories)
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney 8:30/7:30c (check local listings)

Growing up one of my absolute favorite cartoon characters was Winnie the Pooh. I can still remember waking up on Saturday mornings as a little girl and going down to the kitchen to eat breakfast and watch The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He was just the sweetest, funniest character with the oddest obsession for honey (I always loved seeing him with his entire head in the pot).

Over spring break I also made it my goal to get up early each day to catch up on all of my favorite kid shows. However, instead of watching the Winnie the Pooh I grew up with, I found My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

My Friends Tigger and Pooh airs on Playhouse Disney and follows the adventures of Pooh, Tigger and the other inhabitants of The Hundred Acre Wood. New to the community is the red-headed little girl Darby, who takes the place of Christopher Robin. Together Darby, Tigger, and Pooh make up the “Super Sleuths” (basically detectives) who help solve problems and mysteries that may arise in The Hundred Acre Wood. The mysteries can range from anything like helping kangaroo Rue and his Huffalump friend figure out how to paint a bird house purple when they only have primary colors, to helping Piglet gather up his courage and voice to sing for his friends. It really covers a wide variety of issues.

Although My Friends Tigger and Pooh could never take the place of the original Winnie the Pooh in my heart, I do have to admit that it is cute show. It’s able to take beloved characters and update them while still keeping those characteristics that make them so special. Along with the few new characters, the show has a fresher look to it. Instead of the traditional drawn cartoon style, the show has more of a computer generated look to it. One of the things I really love about the show is that although they may have changed the some of the aspects of the show to make it appeal to today’s younger generation, they kept most of the personality traits of the main characters that made them so special. Winnie the Pooh still loves honey, Piglet is still afraid of everything, Tigger never stops bouncing, and Rabbit is still kind of scary!! Even most of the voices sound exactly the same as they did around 16 years ago. There’s something very comforting about that. The show is also special because not only does it help kids learn to solve problems, but it also shows them how to do it using teamwork. It also points out that sometimes you can’t always help someone solve their problem physically; there are times when that someone will have to look inside themselves for the solution, like how Piglet had to have confidence in himself and over come his stage fright to get his voice back. It’s nice to see something that was so special years ago transform and renew itself and still keep that magic that was so beloved long ago.

To find out more about My Friends Tigger and Pooh you can visit:

http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/myfriendstiggerandpooh/index.html

or

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805905/

above picture from: video.tvguide.com

Reminiscing on the Magic of Lambchop’s Play-Along

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: preschooler-young kids
Episode length: 30 min
Network/Schedule: Unfortunately, Lambchop’s Play Along ended in 1997

When I watch the television shows that are available to young children today, it always makes me miss the shows that were on and popular when I was a little girl. We also had the classics like Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street, but in my opinion shows back then were a little more creative (Cookie Monster actually ate cookies-go figure!!). Today there doesn’t seem to be as much of a variety of shows, they all seem to be cartoons that focus on one form of education. The shows that always standout the most in my memory from my childhood, are the ones that were live action with real people and/or real puppets. One of my favorite shows was and still is Lambchop’s Play-Along.

For those of you not familiar with or can’t quite remember Lambchop’s Play-Along, the show ran from 1992 to 1997 and starred Shari Lewis and her puppet Lambchop, an adorable and very spunky little sheep. You may remember it better as the show that introduced us all to “The Song that Never Ends.” In each episode Shari would help Lambchop and her fellow puppets Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy ( all of whom Shari provided the voices for) learn valuable lessons while they also had a lot of fun telling stories and jokes and having crazy adventures. The lessons were basic and what you would expect from any children’s show; ranging from learning not to be afraid to being polite. For example, I found part of an episode on youtube (thank you technology!) where Lambchop tells Shari she doesn’t want her to go out that night because she will miss her too much. Shari tries to explain that everyone needs alone time sometimes, but when Lambchop refuses to believe that, Shari promises her that they will spend the entire next day together describing “we’ll be so close, when you sneeze, I’ll have to wipe my nose!” Then it goes into a little montage of the next day and all the things Shari and Lambchop do together. By the end of the day Lambchop admits that maybe she does believe that everyone needs their alone time, but she would rather have Shari around. It’s really a sweet clip that not only teaches Lambchop and other children an important lesson, but also shows the vulnerable side of Lambchop that viewers don’t always get to see. Most of the time she’s very sarcastic and a little rebel that Shari constantly needs to keep an eye on. She’s Fantastic!!! :)

Just thinking about Lambchop’s Play-Along takes me back to the days when I was a little girl and developing my imagination. It’s the shows like Lambchop that are able to take a basic sock puppet and make you believe that it is a person with all the innocence, imagination, and energy of an actual child. You believe in these shows and these characters and they become a part of who you are. You’re constantly learning and growing with them without really realizing it because you’re having so much fun at the same time. On top of that, it’s not only entertaining for small children, but there is a lot of humor there that adults can enjoy as well which makes the show that much more special. It’s definitely a show that will remain in my heart forever.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find an official website for Lambchop’s Play-Along, but for more info on the show you can visit:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166048/

Above picture from: tv.msn.com

“Wiggly Fun” with The Wiggles

Rating: TV-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 minutes
Network/Schedule: 11:30 am Mon-Fri. & 7 am Sat-Sun on Playhouse Disney

(Check local listings)


I was first introduced to The Wiggles by my older brother a few years ago (he always seems to find the most unusual shows). To be quite honest, the first time I saw the show I thought it was the scariest thing I ever saw!!! I mean, four grown men singing and dancing all over the place in bright clothing and with a giant dinosaur and a pirate seems extremely strange to me!! However, after watching the show a little more and thinking about it from a different perspective, I’ve come to have a different opinion of The Wiggles.

The Wiggles can be seen on Playhouse Disney during the week at 11:30 and on weekends at 7 am. It’s an Australian show that stars Anthony Field (Blue Wiggle), Murray Cook (Red Wiggle), Jeff Fatt (Purple Wiggle), and Sam Moran (Yellow Wiggle) who took over for the original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, who had to leave the show for medical reasons. The men as well as Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword along with many other friends use song and dance to entertain children and their parents. While looking at The Wiggle’s website I also found out that many of The Wiggles also have a background in children education. Anthony, Murray and Greg originally met while studying Early Education at a University in Sydney and then started writing children’s music together. After that, they brought in Jeff and the rest is history!!!

While The Wiggle’s main goal seems to be to entertain children, in my opinion their songs and other segments seem to help children grow in memory and problem solving skills as well. For example, I’ve noticed that in many episodes that I’ve watched, they use some of the same songs, for example “The Farmer in the Dell.” By repeating the songs multiple times children are able to remember them so that the next time they hear those songs they can sing along with them. They also have a segment I’ve seen a few times now where Anthony comes out dressed in a clown outfit and Sam is trying to figure out what he is dressed as. They go through every part of the outfit from the hat to the shoes, with Sam constantly asking the audience for help. This gets the children involved and gets their minds working to figure out what Anthony could be dressed as. Even their clothing (besides helping kids recognize some of the primary colors) can help develop children’s memories by allowing them to associate the color the Wiggle is wearing with their name (Anthony is always blue for example).

The Wiggles really is a very fun show. It has a lot of energy with fun songs that children and parents can enjoy and sing together. I said earlier that I originally thought the show was a little scary, but that my opinion has changed since. The reason for this is that, as I have been watching this show and watching these characters with all their enthusiasm, I can see how much they really care and believe in what they are doing. It takes a lot for any grown person to get on television and do anything that to others may seem crazy or over the top. Now when I watch The Wiggles, I think of it more as what lengths a father would go to entertain and teach his child; and that, in my opinion is a very noble act of love. So thank you to all the loving daddies and mommies out there, and also, thank you to The Wiggles!!

If you would like to find out more about The Wiggles, you can visit their website at :

http://www.thewiggles.com.au/us/home/

(above picture found at website too!!)

Laughing and Learning with Charlie and Lola

Rating: Tv-Y
Target Audience: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 30 mins (consists of two stories)
Network/Schedule: Playhouse Disney 11/10c (check local listings for your area)

My yearly family vacation to Ocean City New Jersey is not only a time for my family to relax and work on our sunburns, but also our chance to catch up on children television programming (since it’s the only time of year when we’re all up before 10 in the morning for something other than school or work). Of course we watch the essential Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, but a few summers ago we were introduced to what is now one of our favorite kids’ shows, Charlie and Lola.

Charlie and Lola is based off of books by Lauren Child and is shown on Playhouse Disney. Each animated show is about fifteen minutes long and follows 4 year old Lola and her 7 year old brother Charlie as they face many issues that we have all had to deal with; from eating foods we hate to not getting our dream role in the school play.

I’m sure it seems weird that a 21 year old college student would be so enthusiastic over a children’s show, but believe me, it’s the cutest show you will ever see!!! What makes the show so special and unique is the way the characters are designed and how they handle the issues brought forth. Charlie and Lola is an animated show, but unlike many other animated shows, it looks like a storybook. The characters are drawn one dimensionally as if in pencil. The colors are bright and sometimes go out side of the lines, as if a child had colored it—as if Lola had colored it. The characters also speak with little British accents that are so adorable.

Each episode begins with Charlie saying, “I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny…” Lola is this little blonde ball of energy who’s imagination always seems to be working it’s hardest. Charlie is probably the perfect big brother; he is always understanding and patient with Lola, even when her imagination gets the best of her. I think that’s my favorite thing about this show, is the relationship between Charlie and Lola. Growing up with two older siblings, I know how frustrating it can be to feel like they don’t understand you or think you’re too little to understand them, but with Charlie and Lola, they just understand each other. For example, in one episode Lola says she would “never, not ever eat a tomato,” but Charlie, being the clever big brother he is, tells Lola that the tomato is not really a tomato, but a "moonsquirter" from outer space. So, of course, Lola eats it and finds out that she loves them!! The stories are so clever, yet they deal with issues that we have all faced, some people still face even as they get older (my brother still won’t eat certain foods—maybe we should try Charlie’s methods). But it’s not just Charlie helping Lola; Lola also helps her big brother. In another episode, Charlie is supposed to perform a song he and his friend Marv wrote at school, but when Marv doesn’t show up because he is sick, Lola comes to Charlie’s rescue and performs with him instead.

Each show focuses on a different issue, but also always goes back to the emphasis on the strong relationship between a brother and a sister. The show really serves as a great example for all children on how to solve certain problems or overcome fears, but also how to treat other people, whether they are your best friend or sibling. I know the show has definitely strengthened my relationship with my big brother and sister!!! :)

To Find out more about Charlie and Lola, visit the show's website at :

http://www.charlieandlola.com/

or

http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/charlieandlola/index.html