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/
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
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