It is disconcerting for most parents that children’s TV is packed with programs which are either inappropriate or are so staidly informative that they are boring and are seldom watched by their target audience. However, once in a while you come across children’s programs which are refreshingly creative, void of any violence or aggression and as entertaining as they are educative.
For me, the quest for appropriate TV viewing choices to engage my overtly curious, imaginative and impressionable 3 year old ended with the discovery of Playhouse Disney Asia. A year later, I have become as ardent a fan of this channel as my son is of the cartoon characters that feature on it.
Variety is the name of the game on Playhouse Disney
The presence of a varied itinerary raises the popularity bar of the channel which uses both animated as well as non-animated characters for its story-telling. Children can enjoy popular characters from the Disney world such as Micky Mouse and his pals Goofy, Bruno, Minnie, Daisy and Donald, and also Darby with her friends Tigger and Pooh, who have entertained generations of kids the world over. At the same time new shows such as Dive Olly Dive and Jungle Junction keep adding fresh luster to the existing bandwagon of entertaining and educative programs on the channel.
Some of the programs like Angelina Ballerina are more popular with little girls while young boys simply adore the Chuggers in Chugginton and the chirpy team of Animal Mechanicals. Programs such as Pocoyo and Pororo the Little Penguin have simple, identifiable themes presented in a basic, easy-to-comprehend format which is ideal for young children in the age group of 2-3.
Let the music roll on Playhouse Disney
What can be more fun than a narrative woven in catchy tunes and hummable lyrics? Programs such as Little Einsteins and Imagination Movers do just that enthralling young viewers with music and movement and allowing interaction as children are encouraged to tap, clap, sing and pat along with the characters. Both the programs introduce children to musical instruments as well with Little Einsteins also familiarizing children with a musical inclination works of legends such as Beethoven.
Other than that, theme songs of shows such as Special Agent Oso and Micky Mouse Clubhouse are also very popular with children and are played by the channel as fillers in 'Music Time.'
Playhouse Disney brings Heroes to life
Thereare heroes galore on Playhouse Disney. Little children need idols, characters they can identify with and to emulate. Instead of giving them superheroes who seem straight out of another planet, Playhouse Disney gives kids adorable real-life heroes.
So there is Handy Manny, a sweet, mild-mannered handyman from Sheet-rock Hills who can fix just about anything from a broken vase to an elevator with the help of his useful tools. Next are the Higglytown Heroes who seek help from real-life heroes such as doctors, teachers, coast guards, salesmen and even zoo-keepers.
Playhouse Disney also gives children their very own 'Bond' aka Special Agent Oso, equipped with special gear and gadgets, his own plane, parachute, bullet train and customized car all which help him complete his assignment for the day in style. The assignments are easy to relate to with Special Agent Oso helping a child brush his teeth, wear his uniform, wear his school shoes, fly a kite, use a swing, make a party hat or even learn to recycle.
Educate, Innovate and Entertain with Playhouse Disney
The USP of the channel has to definitely be its educative content balanced with an entertainment quotient. Micky Mouse Clubhouse tops the charts in this category with Micky and his friends encouraging little viewers to identify shapes, colors and count numbers with them as they chase clues or even the giant Pete.
A close second is Word World where characters such as the s-h-e-e-p, the p-i-g, the d-u-c-k,b-e-a-r and the f-r-o-g go about ‘building words’ in the shape of things with the help of colorful letters in sync with the theme for the episode. Preschoolers learn spellings and words in a fun, unobtrusive way.
Playhouse Disney also educates children through stories focusing on current environmental challenges such as recycling, conserving electricity and water and planting trees in popular shows such as Handy Manny, Higglytown Heroes and Special Agent Oso. Children are made aware of the grave issues in a light, story form but the impact is lasting and children often become the torch bearers of positive change in their families.
Playhouse Disney likes to keep it short and sweet
Another appealing feature of Playhouse Disney is that it does not let the child's interest flag in between programs nor does it allow inappropriate commercials to be aired on its channel. Besides the art and craft and music time, there are also beautifully crafted, educative quality fillers or 1-2 minute shows carrying the message of safety, civility and eating healthy to children in a short and sweet format.
Lou and Lou Safety Control wins hands down in this category with the siblings Lou and Lou with the help of their dog pointing out safety violations like uncovered electric sockets, wet floors and hot pans with panache. For boisterous kids who want to explore the world and don't like their parents pointing out safety hazards, this show is a must-see to keep safe.
The show, Can you teach my Alligator Manners? features a badly behaved alligator that is taught manners like saying please and thank you through examples and role-play by his friend. Adventures in nutrition with Captain Carlos is another useful mini show portraying how the little boy Carlos chooses healthy snack over sugary, junk food and becomes 'Captain Carlos'. Great for kids who hate to eat wholemeal and veggies. Another useful filler is Jojo's Circus which encourages children to exercise, dance and engage in outdoor activities.
Imagine,show-tell and role-play - it's a child's world on Playhouse Disney!
Don’t be alarmed if your little one treats the house as 100 acres wood and takes upon herself to solve all mysteries with the help of a magnifying glass like Darby in My Friends Tigger and Pooh. Also don't be balked if your preschooler asks you to explain everything in three special steps just like his hero Special Agent Oso or expects the car to start when he claps his hands. Role play, story telling and even harmless fibbing is all part of growing up and if this role play helps keeps your child safe or emulating a cartoon character makes him eat his greens, it is all for a good cause.
For me, programs on Playhouse Disney Asia have restored my faith in Children's Television as a mother. Now as I watch my son devouring his favorite shows, I let out a sigh of relief and silently salute the bravado of the creators of such programs who have presented content that can have a positive influence on children and also hone their early childhood skills.
A note of caution though, TV viewing by young children must always be a supervised activity and it is wise to rotate your child's favorite shows during the week and set limits on children’s TV viewing time.
Puja Chandra - Hi, I am Puja Chandra Nanda. I would like to introduce myself as a creative and prolific writer totally and absolutely in love with the ...
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