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
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
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