PBS KIDS DVD: ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month, a topic of particular interest to our family as my daughter has a severe peanut allergy. I have to embarrassingly admit not knowing much on the topic before the fateful day when we discovered my daughter's medical condition after she went into anaphylactic shock and came very close to dying. If you haven't previously read about our family's experience with food allergies, here is my post about it.

With 1 in 13 children now suffering from food allergies it really is important for people to have a basic understanding of the condition and understand this is is not a joking matter even though you often see television and shows use it as the topic of comedy sketches. Yes I'm talking about you Big Bang Theory!  There is a really good chance that even if someone in your direct circle of friends and families doesn't have a food allergy you will be interacting with someone at some point who does.  Food allergies are a series, potentially life threatening medical condition.  Since I didn't know much about food allergies until they impacted my family, I  understand how easily others can be in the dark about them as well.  So please take a moment to learn some tips about dealing with food allergies this month as a favor to this food allergy dad.

As part of Food Allergy Awareness Month, PBS KIDS is releasing ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES a DVD collection of shows from some of its most popular animated series that all have allergies as a topic. These episodes are a great way for children and their parents to learn about food allergies. Young viewers can join Binky as he works to understand his peanut allergy in an ARTHUR story, and Daniel Tiger as he tries a peach for the first time and gets hives leading to the discovery he's allergic to the fruit.

The DVD also features a WORD WORLD story in which Pig struggles to tell his friends that he is allergice to peaches after Sheep and Dog bring over a bag of fruit for him to make into pies. I was a bit disappointed PBS included a PEG + CAT episode on pet allergies because it can cause confusion with the food allergy messages.  Also the WORD WORLD episode doesn't really explain food allergies correctly which is troubling because people don't sneeze in those circumstances when having a reaction they break out in hives or start having issues with their body swelling up. Overall though this is a very nice collection of shows that provide very valuable information in an entertaining format.

ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES will be available at retailers across the United States beginning May 9, 2017. It has a run time of approximately 70 minutes. The DVD features five stories from four of PBS KIDS television including these two standout episodes:

ARTHUR --  Binky Goes Nuts

When Binky discovers that he’s allergic to peanuts, he has so many questions: will he be forced to live without Chinese food? Will he ever again be able to eat with his friends? And most importantly, will his Mom ever calm down? Binky learns that the best way not to go nuts is to be well informed, and to understand his allergy.

PBS KIDS also has a special website filled with peanut allergy information and tips revolving around the episode.  CLICK HERE to check it out.  They also partnered with Cherrybrook Kitchen to create a line of ARTHUR themed snacks including brownies and cookies that are peanut allergy safe to eat.

DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD -- Daniel's Allergy
When Daniel tries a peach for the first time, he learns he is allergic to the fruit. Dad and Doctor Anna take care of him, and Doctor Anna tells Daniel how he can take care of himself, too.

For more useful information about food allergies, please visit Kids With Food Allergies or FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).  Plus here is an informative video on the topic:

PBS KIDS: Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month and PBS KIDS will be airing some special shows featuring autistic characters in an effort to promote awareness, acceptance and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The highlight of these shows will be Sesame Street introducing a brand new Muppet character named Julia who has autism.  Autistic characters will also be featured in episodes of the animated series Arthur and Dinosaur Train.  PBS KIDS hopes that children with autism will find these characters relatable and these shows will help educate the broader public about this medical condition.  These will definitely be some valuable shows full of teachable moments.  Here is a listing of when each show will debut this month:

4/10  Sesame Street "Meet Julia"

When Big Bird doesn't understand why the new girl on the block won't talk to him the Sesame     Street gang explains to him that Julia may act differently than other kids but is special in her very own way.  Julia, a Muppet with autism, makes her debut in a television episode of Sesame Street.  Julia is performed by puppeteer Stacey Gordon, who uses her own experiences raising an autistic son to help make the actions of the character realistic.



Visit SesameStreet.org/Autism to read a free online storybook featuring Julia and to view some videos featuring the newest Muppet character. The website also includes an autism reference section that includes activity and discussion ideas plus informational tips.

4/10  Dinosaur Train “Junior Conductors Academy”

The kids are all excited! Why? Because they’re off to Junior Conductor’s Academy in Laramidia, to try to become Junior Conductors First Class. Buddy has a feeling he’s going to be a star in class, until he meets Dennis Deinocheirus – a kid who knows even more dinosaur facts than he does! Can Buddy get over his disappointment that he’s not the smartest kid in class, and make friends with Dennis (who seems like he’s having trouble making friends on his own)?

Click here for some Autism Awareness Month tips and resources courtesy of  Dinosaur Train.

Arthur is one of my family's favorite shows on PBS KIDS.  I enjoy watching this show with its subtle societal commentaries and humorous situations all most as much as my kids do.  Arthur is an entertaining and educational show providing kids with teachable moments that they may be learning from without even realizing it.  So it is no surprise that they've weighed in on the topic of autism.   There will be four autism-related episodes of Arthur being broadcast by PBS KIDS in April.

4/10   Arthur “When Carl Met George/D.W. Swims with the Fishes"

George is excited about spending time with his new friend, Carl, who seems to know all kind of cool facts about trains and about… well lots of things! Then George learns that Carl has Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism that makes Carl see the world differently than most people. Can George and Carl remain good friends - and perhaps even learn from each other?  /  D.W. and James enter the pre-school swim meet and recruit their big siblings to coach them. All goes swimmingly until Arthur and Molly start taking their jobs a little too seriously. Who's this race about, anyway?

4/11  Arthur “Pets and Pests/Go Fly a Kite” 

There's a mouse loose in the Read home! And D.W. wants it gone…NOW! When traps fail, Arthur enlists the help of an expert mouse catcher…a fearless hunter who laughs in the face of danger: Nemo??  / While playing in the park, Binky, Muffy, and Ladonna stumble upon an abandoned kite. After failing to find the owner, the trio decides to take joint custody of the toy. But sharing it is easier said than done…

4/12  Arthur “Carl's Concerto/Too Much of a Good Thing”
Carl has agreed to play the accordion for George’s puppet show. But his routines are getting in the way of rehearsals. Now George must decide: keep Carl and risk the show, or replace Carl and risk his friendship? / Buster enlists Binky’s help to keep him from gorging on delicious Tuvaluna cookies. Will Buster’s self-control hold...or crumble?

4/13  Arthur “He Said, He Said/Bunny Trouble”
A special episode of Bionic Bunny is interrupted, and Arthur, Buster, and George try to remember what comes next. But Carl is the only one who can straighten out the story. / D.W. is excited to be taking care of the class bunny, Larry. But when Larry is feeling adventurous and wanders off, it’s up to Ladonna the “Bunny Whisperer” to help get him back.

These shows will be rebroadcast throughout the month after the initial airing listed above.  Check your with your PBS affiliate for more details regarding local programming schedules.

In addition to incorporating the topic of autism into PBS KIDS programming, the PBS Parents website has articles from doctors, disability experts and special education teachers on topics ranging from identifying autism to creating inclusive environments for autistic children.  Additionally, PBS Learning Media has great teacher resources and activities for children with autism that can be found here.

Wild Kratts Creature Power Suits

** A Geek Daddy was provided the featured product for free to review **

I often get compliments from adults who interact with my children about how impressive it is that I've taught them so many interesting facts about animals and nature which makes me smirk because the truth is they've learned much of it from watching the television show WILD KRATTS on PBS.  My 7 year old twins have been viewing this animated show about two brothers who utilize special creature power suits that let them mimic animal abilities since they were preschoolers and it is still one of their favorite programs on television.  So my kids were thrilled when WICKED COOL TOYS found out they were huge fans of the series and sent them some fun show themed products so they could enjoy a summer full of Wild Kratt adventures.

To help spur imaginative play, Wicked Cool Toys has created a Wild Kratts Creature Power Suit so that kids can run around the woods, playground, backyard or house pretending they are utilizing the same technology as highlighted in the television show.  My kids were whining they had nothing to do just before I gave them these Creature Power Suits and it really is amazing how something as simple as a nicely decorated set of a vest and gloves could quickly change their mood motivating them to want to go outside and play.  They've spent hours having fun outside wearing their new Creature Power Suits racing around the nature trails by our house, the local playground, and our yard pretending to utilize animal abilities in pretend play.  I have to admit it has been rather amusing watching my daughter hopping around pretending to use her Kangaroo powers and my son flapping his arms around acting out his falcon powers.  While they have been providing me with some chuckles, more importantly these play outfits have motivated my kids to get outside and be active not only exercising their muscles while they act out their creature powers but also their brains as they've been really creative in the adventures they've imagined up.

While simplistic in design, the Wild Kratts Creature Power Suits are actually very nicely put together and have been durable in withstanding some rugged play by my kids.  They have velcro straps to make the vests adjustable for kids in the age range of 4 to 8 years old as they fit children's sizes 4 - 6x.  My twins are in 6/7 children's clothes sizes so they are at the larger side of wearing these costumes so I'm really glad they were able to get a chance to have some fun with these costumes probably the last summer before they get too big to enjoy them. The vest and gloves are made of 100% polyester fiber and have some really nice embroidery providing nice details to the look of the costume.  The material is very soft to touch and my kids say the vest and gloves are really comfortable to wear.

Each costume also includes a couple of plastic discs with the image of an animal on it.  Kids can store one disc in a holder on their glove and place the other in a holder on the front of the vest to "activate" that creature's power.  My daughter has a kangaroo disc which has her hopping all about and a giraffe one so you see her pretending to stretch her neck all about.  My son has falcon disc so he's pretending to fly all about and a cheetah disc so he's doing wind sprints around the yard running as fast as he can.   Additional discs for a variety of other animals are also included in the 2-pack and 4-pack boxes of 3" Wild Kratts sculpted figurines.

Each of these toy packs includes either a Chris or Martin figure with the 4-pack featuring three animals to go along with the Kratt brother and four creature power discs.  2-packs include one of the Kratt brothers and one animal plus one power disc.  These are a perfect size for taking along to keep kids amused while traveling.  We have a few long drives coming up for some family road trips and will be taking these along for the twins to play with during the car rides.

Whether watching an episode of Wild Kratts on television or playing pretend adventures outside, Wicked Cool Toys can help immerse children into the world of this great animated series.  Our family has appreciated Wild Kratts TV show because it is both educational and entertaining and the Wicked Cool Toys lineup of themed products fits that same bill. Do you know a child who would love to play out his or her very own creature adventures? These Wild Kratts products are available at Kmart, Toys R Us, PBS Kids Shop Online and Amazon.com.  For more information, visit wickedcooltoys.com.

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club

The Jim Henson Company, producers of the animated PBS Kids television series Dinosaur Train, want to help keep children exploring and learning over the summer break.  So this summer they've launched a ten week series of activities called the Nature Trackers Summer Challenge to help parents keep children engaged in learning throughout their break from school.  Beginning June 20th, each week will have a different theme starting with STARGAZING WEEK and be tied to a special episode airing on PBS.  Future themes include birds, insects and volcanoes, among other topics.

Here's a look at the list of the Nature Trackers Summer Challenge's first group of activities for STARGAZING WEEK:

WATCH - Dinosaur Train: Remember the Alamosaurus / Sunrise , Sunset on PBS. In this episode Dad takes the Pteranodon kids on an overnight camping trip where they watch both a sunrise and a sunset learning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.  The kids also find out more about nocturnal (night-active) animals and diurnal (day-active) animals.  If you miss this episode airing on television, CLICK HERE to watch it online via Watch Cartoons Online at your own convenience.  Dinosaur Train episodes can also be streamed via Hulu, Netflix and YouTube.

PLAY - Under the Night Sky: Act Nocturnal!

DO -  Moon Observation!

EXPLORE -  Explore the sky from various locations in the world with NASA Watch the Skies! All Sky Camera Network.

For a complete list of challenges, visit the Nature Trackers page on PBS Parents!  As your kids participate in the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Summer Challenge share your experiences by posting your stories and photos at the Henson Family Hub on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #NatureTrackers.

Odd Squad DVD: Dance Like Nobody's Watching

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

My daughter's favorite television show is ODD SQUAD on PBS Kids and she wants to rush home from school everyday so she won't miss an episode.  Now I have to say that this is an applaudable selection not just because of ODD SQUAD'S educational focus but also because its episodes are so witty and well written that my wife and I will often find ourselves regularly joining our kids in watching the show because we also find it amusing and enjoyable to watch.  So our entire family was excited to receive the new ODD SQUAD dvd "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" which is now available to purchase on the Shop PBS online store and at various other retailers.

This dvd will let our kids watch some of their favorite ODD SQUAD episodes whenever they want.  "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" features 6 episodes from ODD SQUAD that all have a mathematical themed story and each feature musical numbers:

“Soundcheck”
Olive and Otto must figure out how and why things are disappearing around town when all Otto wants to do is listen to a song by his favorite band, Soundcheck.

“Soundcheck Part Deux”
When the members of Soundcheck go missing, Otto and Olive must bring them back together in time for their big concert. Otto uses his special superfan closet to help collect data to solve the case.

“A Case of the Sing-Alongs”
When Mayor Macklemore catches a case of the Sing-A-Longs, Olive and Otto must discover the cause before the Mayor sings his way out of his job!

“O is Not for Old”
The agents throw a surprise party for Ms. O and are having trouble making decisions about the details. They send O’Malley to delay Ms. O by various means while they try to figure them out.

“Mystic Egg Pizza”
With the help of Odd Squad, Delivery Debbie and Delivery Doug must figure out why their food is disappearing.

I have to warn you that my kids have memorized the songs from these episodes and you could find yourself humming these tunes, like "Take Away 4" in the car or at work.  My kids favorites are the ones sung by Soundcheck.  Hmm I wonder if it is ODD that my kids are such big fans of a fictional boy band when they really don't care for the real musical performances?  Anyway the musical numbers are actually pretty catchy, especially the big Sing-Alongs episode finale, and reinforce educational math concepts which is definitely a good thing.



Geared for children ages 5-8, ODD SQUAD follows two young agents, Olive and Otto, who are part of an agency led by Ms. O that seeks to save the day using math when odd things happen.



PBS has also created a free augmented reality app for iPads and iPhones to go with the DVD.  As they release additional ODD SQUAD dvds, you will be able to scan each individual package to unlock a unique gadget with its own special abilities. For this particular dvd, the musical changeinator is made available from the ODD SQUAD laboratory to play around with.

Open the app and scan the back side of the dvd package.

Ms. O's favorite thing in the whole wide world will appear - a juice box.

Shoot the juice box with the musical changeinator and it will start dancing to a soundtrack playing from your device and emitting special effects on the screen.

You can also move the juice box around utilizing the camera in your mobile device so that it can interact with your surroundings.

ODD SQUAD: DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval for not just being educational but also  also very entertaining.  It is a show which can bring the whole family together to enjoy and learn from it.  I'd recommend picking up a copy of this dvd to have handy for summer break, especially if you are looking to amuse some kids during a long car trip and have an in-vehicle or portable dvd player to take along for the ride.

For those of you interested in joining the ODD SQUAD here is a badge that can can personalized courtesy of PBS Kids:

Dinosaur Train airs special Autism Awareness Month episode on PBS Kids

Dinosaur Train was one of my children's favorite television shows when they were toddlers and if you have preschoolers in your life I'd highly recommend tuning in to watch this great animated television series from The Jim Henson Company on your local PBS station.  In support of April being designated Autism Awareness Month, Dinosaur Train has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's "Learn the Signs: Act Early" iniative (which aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so that they and their families can get the services and support they need) to address the topic in a brand-new episode that will be debuting on Wednesday April 6, 2016.  Check your local PBS station's programming schedule to see what time Dinosaur Train is broadcast in your area.



In Dinosaur Train's "Junior Conductors Academy", Buddy and his siblings become friends with a dinosaur named Dennis who knows A LOT MORE about dinosaurs than Buddy does, but he has some trouble making new friends.  Like all dinosaurs, their new friend Dennis Deinocheirus has his own dinosaur features.  And like all of us, he has strengths in some areas and challenges in others.  As Buddy and Dennis develop a friendship at the Dinosaur Train Junior Conductor's Academy, the episode explains Autism in a manner that preschoolers can understand and relate to while underscoring with parents the importance of identifyin children with autism early.



In addition to the messaging contained within the "Junior Conductor's Academy" episode of Dinosaur Train, The Jim Henson Company has also released an informational essay from Dr. Stephanie Meyer on the topic titled Learning To Be Curious: Lessons From The Jim Henson Company's Dinosaur Train on PBS.  Dr. Meyer, a child psychologist with over 20 years of research and clincial experience served as a consultant on this special Autism focused episode of Dinosaur Train.



The Jim Henson Company sent us this coloring sheet of Dennis and has asked our A Geek Daddy readers to help introduce the newest member of the Dinosaur Train family to the world. It would be appreciated if families with young children would have their kiddos decorate this Dennis coloring sheet and then tweet out a picture of their art work including @DinosaurTrain and #MeetDennis in the message.



As part of its Autism Awareness Month outreach to families with young children, the CDC is also asking parents with children between the ages of 2 and 4 to read AMAZING ME - IT'S BUSY BEING 3 to their kids in that age range.  The story is about Joey, an amazing 3 year old kangaroo who is very excited about all that he can do now that he is three.  Joey doesn't know it, but these amazing things are called developmental milestones, and that is a very important part of each child's growth.  This book highlights for parents what milestones to look for as a child grows and develops plus provides plus provides an opportunity to interact with a child to see if they can do the same things Joey can do.  Print out the book below for a hard copy to read or AMAZING ME - IT'S BUSY BEING 3 can also be viewed online or as a free iBook for iPad.



For more information about Dinosaur Train, visit pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/  For more information about Autism Awareness Month visit autismspeaks.org

WILD KRATTS: AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free **

My son rushes to get dressed and eat his breakfast every morning so he has some time before school to watch his favorite show Wild Kratts on PBS KIDS.  This animated television series follows the adventures of the Kratt brothers, Chris and Martin, as they go into the wild to save animals from over-the-top villains or real world based situations that threaten creatures in their native habitats.  Shows include the duo donning special "power suits" that allow Chris and Martin to mimic the special abilities of animals, fish and birds to save the day in animated sequences plus incorporate live video segments featuring the brothers with wild life that they educate the audience about.   Wild Kratt's has really sparked an interest with my son in learning about animals and their natural habitats.

Our family has an upcoming adventure we'll be embarking on soon and my son is excited to be able to watch in the van during our long road trip the Wild Kratts: Australian Adventure DVD that PBS Kids recently released on January 5th.  The TV-Y rated Wild Kratts: Australian Adventure DVD has a run time of 60 minutes and includes two television show episodes Koala Balloon and Kickin' it with the Roos plus a special bonus adventure called Platypus Cafe. 

Episode 1: Koala Balloon

Martin and Chris must protect a young koala stranded in the Australian Outback, and help him get back to his eucalyptus forest habitat. On their quest to return the adorable animal home, the brothers discover lots of interesting facts about how animals are specialized to their own environment.

Episode 2: Kickin’ it with the Roos

When Chris and Martin meet up with a mob of red kangaroos, they get their car keys stolen by a joey and have to figure out how to get them back from the tricky little guy. As they jump into the life of the roos to search for the missing keys, the brothers realize that animals live in different kinds of social groups and they have important behaviors that keep the group together and safe. But everybody wonders just how safe this search has become, when Chris and Martin get tangled up in a kickboxing match with the dominant male and caught in the middle of a dingo attack.

Bonus Episode: Platypus Cafe

On a kayaking expedition in Australia, the brothers encounter one of the world’s most unusual creatures: a platypus mother with her eggs. But unscrupulous endangered animal chef, Gourmand, plans on adding the platypus eggs to his menu. Chris and Martin must harness the special electromagnetic “sixth sense” of the platypus to save the eggs.

Australia has such incredible animals and landscapes that combined with the comedic exploits of the Kratt brothers is sure to entertain and educate most kids.  You can pick up your own copy of the Wild Kratts: Australian Adventure DVD from the Shop PBS online store.

Daniel Tiger Goes To School

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product from PBS Kids.  A Geek Daddy did not receive any financial compensation for this post.

Do you have children at home who may be getting ready to head to preschool, kindergarten or first grade as the summer wraps up.  If so your family will probably appreciate the new DVD being released by PBS KIDS on August 18, 2015 DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL featuring stories from the popular The Fred Rogers Company's animated television series DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD.  This series centers around 5 year old Daniel Tiger, who is the son of the original Daniel Striped Tiger from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  These shows also feature the children of other characters from Fred Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe including Prince Wednesday (the son of King Friday and Queen Saturday), Katerina Kittycat (daughter of Henrietta Pussycat), O the Owl (nephew of X the Owl), and Miss Elaina (daughter of Lady Elaine Fairchild and Music Man Stan).  The stories in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood involve topics that young children and their parents often encounter such as dealing with a new sibling, overcoming picky eating, and going to school.

With this new DVD, DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL, youngsters can join Daniel Tiger and his friends as they head to school, where they discover that learning and using your imagination is grr-ific fun! It includes 8 fun-filled tales that will get kids excited about school and learning.  Some of the important lessons kids will learn from the adventures on DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL include: everyone’s job is important and we all help in different ways, and, if you’re not successful at first, keep trying, and you’ll get better!  The DVD has a run time of approximately 100 minutes. The DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL DVD has a run time of approximately 100 minutes and is best suited for children 3 to 6 years old includes the following stories: 

“A Trip to the Crayon Factory”

Daniel Tiger, Miss Elaina, and Katerina Kittycat take a fun trip to the factory to see how crayons are made but, O the Owl can’t come because he’s sick. At the factory, the kids watch the crayons being made, and Daniel looks and listens closely. Daniel has an idea to take pictures at the factory and give them to O at the end of the day, so that O can learn about crayons too! 

“Be a Vegetable Taster!”

Teacher Harriet introduces Daniel and his friends to the school’s vegetable garden and convinces them to pick out some healthy veggies for their snack. They explore the garden, picking and trying different vegetables…with mixed results!

“Line Leader Daniel”

The children are getting new classroom jobs at school. Daniel really wants to be line leader! When he doesn’t get the job he wanted, Daniel is disappointed. Soon he learns that all of the jobs are necessary to keep the classroom running smoothly.

“Problem Solver Daniel”

Daniel and Miss Elaina are playing with the blocks at school but they each want to build something different. They call Teacher Harriet over to help fix the problem, but she tells them to work out a solution without her. They do, and feel proud that they can figure things out all by themselves.

“The Class Votes”

At school, Daniel and his classmates get to choose their new class pet! Teacher Harriet explains that they can either get a bunny or a turtle. The kids learn what it means to “vote” and that sometimes it doesn’t always turn out your way. Luckily, ALL of the kids find something to love about their new pet, “Snowball”! 

“O Builds a Tower”

In the block corner at school, O the Owl is determined to use all of the blocks to build the tallest tower in the world. After many failed attempts, he is frustrated, but Teacher Harriet and O’s friends encourage him to try once again.

“Play Pretend”

Teacher Harriet shows the children a big cardboard box and asks them what they think it could be. Daniel and Miss Elaina have fun pretending the box is a space ship and a jungle boat, but O the Owl just sees a big cardboard box. With a little help from his friends, O discovers how much fun it is to pretend!

“Safety Patrol”

Today at school, the children are learning about traffic signs. Prince Tuesday comes for a special visit, wearing his crossing guard uniform. He takes the class on a walk through the Neighborhood and they practice their safety rules all along the way.

CLICK HERE for more information about ordering DANIEL GOES TO SCHOOL from PBS.  They are also offering a 15% off back-to-school discount on all PBS Kids DVDs until August 31, 2015 so now is a good time to peruse their catalog of kids oriented shows.  Also check out the two other The Fred Rogers Company shows, Peg + Cat and Odd Squad which are also some of our family's favorite shows on TV.  All three series produced from the Fred Rogers Company, Daniel Tiger, Peg + Cat and Odd Squad recently won Parents Choice Gold Awards.

Caillou Goes Back to School DVD & Bonus Book from PBS Kids

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product from PBS Kids.  A Geek Daddy did not receive any financial compensation for this post.

My kids loved watching Caillou on PBS when they were in preschool.  This cartoon series features a four-year-old named Caillou (pronounced KY-YOO) who shares in a relatable way to preschoolers  life lessons he learns through his experiences on the show.  How to get along with his little sister, deal with being sick, learn to play sports, and getting ready to begin preschool are just a few of the topics Caillou explores with the help of his friends, parents, sister Rosie, and grandma.

Wow has the summer flown by and with it already being early August the school year is just a flip of a calendar page away.  If you have preschoolers or Kindergarteners who may be antsy about starting school, PBS Kids has released a Caillou DVD/Book Bundle that can help parents start a discussion about going to school with their little ones and provide children with some fun motivation to look forward to beginning a new experience in the fall.

You can purchase the "Caillou Goes Back to School" DVD/Book combo on the PBS website for $12.99 plus shipping and handling.  Between now and August 31, 2015 is also having a 15% off sale on all PBS Kids DVDs so if you order this combo pack in the next few weeks you can get it for a little less than the $12.99 listed price.  This bundle features two items – the DVD “Caillou Goes Back to School,” which includes 12 stories, and an illustrated bonus book about riding the school bus.  In addition to the episodes from the animated series, the DVD also features a video game that kids can play on a PC and some downloadable printable coloring pages featuring the characters from Caillou.

 
The DVD run time is approximately 100 minutes and includes the following stories:

“Caillou the Librarian”

Caillou is excited about showing Rosie the ropes when they visit the library. During storytime Caillou imagines he’s in the story, riding on a dolphin. Later he and Rosie argue over a book and accidentally tear it. He doesn’t want to tell the librarian, but finally musters up the courage to do so. The librarian turns out to be very nice and he helps her fix the book. And Rosie gets her very own library card!

“Caillou the Bookworm”

Returning home from the library Caillou is very eager to sit down and enjoy his pirate book. Unfortunately it’s a very busy day and he’s having trouble finding a quiet place to look at his book. Caillou finally finds the perfect place – in his closet! By the light of his flashlight he finally gets to enjoy his book and pretends he’s the pirate in the story digging up a buried treasure.

“Caillou the Storyteller”

It’s a rainy day at playschool and the children can’t go outside. Caillou makes up a funny story about a superhero who makes the rain stop – it’s Super Caillou! He tells the story to Jeffrey and Jason, and Miss Martin suggests he make his own storybook. She writes the story down and Caillou draws the pictures. By the time Mommy comes to pick him up, Caillou has his very own book to show her! 

“Magnet Madness”

Caillou is playing with the fridge magnets and learns lots of things about them. About what they stick to and what they don’t stick to – such as Gilbert! He even imagines himself as a human magnet superhero. In the end Caillou is able to apply what he’s learned and uses a magnet to help Daddy retrieve a metal peg from behind the workbench.

“Caillou the Dinosaur Hunter”

The whole family goes on a trip to the natural history museum to look at the dinosaurs. Caillou is really enjoying himself looking at the skeletons and learning about the different kinds of dinosaurs. When he momentarily loses the others he knows enough to stay put until Mommy comes back and finds him. And when he realizes he’s left Rexy somewhere he learns about the lost and found, and retraces his steps until he finds his dinosaur friend.

“Caillou the Astronaut”

Caillou wants to play with both his friends Clementine and Xavier in the playschool playground. Unfortunately Clementine wants to play bears and Xavier wants to play astronauts, and a little argument ensues. At story time Miss Martin tells them more about spaceships and astronauts and Caillou imagines he’s zooming around the galaxy exploring stars and planets. Back outside Caillou makes up a new astronaut and bear game so everyone can play together.

“Caillou Goes Shopping”

Caillou’s crayons are all worn down or broken, so Mommy suggests a trip to the store for some new ones. Caillou helps Mommy remember what she needs to buy – he remembers the list of items by making a little song out of them. When they’re done they run into Sarah, and Caillou helps her find all her back to school supplies.

“Caillou Goes Apple Picking”

Caillou’s playschool is on a special field trip to an apple orchard. The children really enjoy learning about apples and picking them too. Caillou imagines himself picking the biggest apple in the whole world. Afterwards they enjoy some fresh apple juice. By the time they get back on the bus to go home, Caillou and his friends are all ready for a little nap!

“Caillou’s Halloween Costume”

Halloween is coming and it’s time to pick out a costume to wear. Soon Rosie has three costumes she wants to wear, but Caillou still hasn’t decided on what he wants to be. And time is running out! Finally a piece of blue fake fur gives him a great idea – he’ll be a blue monster! His parents help him fashion an odd but effective monster costume out of bits and pieces they find around the house. When Leo and Clementine arrive they agree that Caillou is a very scary-looking monster indeed!

“Caillou’s Present”

Mommy’s having a bad day – first she can’t find her car keys, then she and Caillou have to shovel the car out, and then the car won’t start! At playschool Caillou decides to make her a present to cheer her up. His first two attempts don’t turn out but he perseveres and makes her a picture of a sun – to melt all the snow!

“Caillou the Chef”

Jeffrey and Jason are coming over for dinner – it’s a make-your-own pizza party! Caillou feels he is an expert at this and starts to show them how to do it. When the twins both opt for less-than-traditional ingredients Caillou is upset that they’re doing it all wrong. In the end, however, their pizzas turn out just fine and Caillou learns that everyone has their own unique way of doing things.

“Caillou the Painter”

Caillou’s got a brand new painting shirt and decides to paint something for Grandma. He has a little trouble deciding what to paint. He wants to use all his colors and paint all his favorite shapes. Mommy tells him that paintings don’t have to be about something and he proceeds to make his own abstract painting! Meanwhile Rosie and Daddy are pressing a flower for Grandma. When Grandma arrives she is thrilled with her very artistic gifts.

Caillou is produced by DHX Media and can be viewed on PBS' children's cable network Sprout and during PBS Kids programming on select local broadcast stations across the country that have included the show on their viewing schedule.  If you have an in-car DVD,  "Caillou Goes Back to School" would be a nice way to keep a child from asking "are we there yet" throughout to drive on an end of summer road trip or it also would be a nice video to put in the DVD player at home on a hot summer day when it probably is better to stay indoors than go outside to play.  Caillou has been one of my kids favorite PBS characters and I'm sure yours will enjoy him too! This DVD is probably best suited for children in the 3 to 5 years old age range, especially those that may be going to preschool or kindergarten for the first time.

CLICK HERE to order your "Caillou Goes Back to School" DVD/Book combo today from PBS Kids.

Monday Sept 2 is NEIGHBOR DAY on PBS KIDS' Daniel Tiger Show

You'll often see a Tiger prowling through our house ... don't be alarmed though it is just my son playing as one of his favorite cartoon characters - DANIEL TIGER!  This PBS KIDS show captures my kids' attention and cultivates their imagination.  With one more year to go until  until Kindergarten, my 4 year old twins are at just the right age now to appreciate the stories and lessons portrayed in DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD.

PBS KIDS will be celebrating Labor Day (September 2, 2013), and the first birthday of Daniel Tiger's appearance on PBS, with a special "NEIGHBOR DAY" episode of DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD.  Check your local PBS outlet for broadcast times in your area.  In the upcoming "Neighbor Day" episode of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Daniel does a good deed which starts a chain reaction of kindness all around the the neighborhood of MAKE-BELIEVE culminating with King Friday's proclamation of an official "Neighbor Day".  The theme of this special is to show preschoolers that doing something nice for their neighbors can be a rewarding experience that can make you feel good about yourself - a message often presented in the long running Mr. Rogers Neighborhood which this show is based off ... you see the characters in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood are animated preschool age versions of the puppets from Mr. Rogers.  For more information about Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood  CLICK HERE to read one of my earlier posts about this PBS KIDS animated series.

Check out "Neighbor Day" on Labor Day - you know my kids will be watching!

PBS Airing Brand New Episodes of DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD this Week

My kids have been pretty geeked this week because PBS is airing brand new episodes of one of their favorite tv shows, DANIEL TIGERS NEIGHBORHOOD.  My daughter actually quotes Daniel Tiger to us during "teachable moments" when we want her to do something like "eat a new food" or "try something new" so it has been a useful show to let our children watch.  In fact the other day when I was noticeably upset about something my daughter came up to me and said from the show "Daddy, when somethings seems bad turn it around and make something good." DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD supports behaviors that as parents we are trying to encourage such as eat vegetables, brush their teeth, play outside, and make friends with other kids.  Of course, what else would you expect from a show that is based off of Mister Rogers. The show is actually produced by The Fred Rogers Company to follow-up on the themes and purpose of the original Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Unfortunately, Fred Rogers who hosted the children's educational program Mister Rogers Neighborhood from 1968 to 2001 passed away in 2003; but his mission to educate kids through children's television programming continues with DANIEL TIGERS NEIGHBORHOOD airing on PBS.  The animated show revolves around 4 year old Daniel Tiger, who is someone my 4 year old twins can really relate to themselves.    Daniel Tiger carries over the legacy from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as he is the son of a character from that original show, the puppet Daniel Striped Tiger.  The new show also features cartoon characters that are meant to be the children of the puppets from the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" in the original Mister Rogers tv show.  The children of Katerina Kittycat, O the Owl, and Prince Wednesday are featured in DANIEL TIGER. The Trolley also plays a big part in the new cartoon. I have to admit I always found the original puppets from Mister Rogers somewhat creepy, but these new animated versions are fun and entertaining compared to their predecessors.  Another fun tidbit is the show brings back a popular original character from Mr. Rogers in an animated Mr. McFeely the postman ... did you know "McFeely" was Fred Rogers middle name? In one of the episodes of DANIEL TIGER, Mr. McFeely saves the day!

Haven't seen an episode of DANIEL TIGER yet?  Check out this clip featuring Mrs. Rogers talking about how the new tv series continues her husband's legacy:

And here's a sample clip of the show where Mr. McFeely saves the day:

If you want to check out a full episode of the show online they periodically make some of the episodes FREE on iTunes or you can check out the PBS website.  DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD is a fantastic program I highly recommend that promotes educational issues in an entertaining way for kids. This week all brand new episodes with the theme of PLAY DATE are airing on PBS.  Check them out!

For more information on the show, visit http://pbskids.org/daniel/

PBS airing brand new episodes of ARTHUR: May 6 - 10

Have you ever found yourself humming a tune to yourself at work or when you are out and about on an errand that you might be embarrassed if someone realized what it was?  I’ll admit it happens to me; in fact I seem to find myself singing the theme song to one of the cartoons my kids watch on television all the time.  You have to admit though that the Ziggy Marley reggae beat which serves as the theme song to ARTHUR is a great tune! Haven’t heard it? Take a listen:

ARTHUR is the second longest running cartoon in the United States behind The Simpsons and has been broadcast on PBS since 1996.  The show follows the youthful misadventures of an 8 year old aardvark named Arthur Read and his friends in their hometown of Elmwood City.  It’s a show that I can sit down as a parent to watch with my children and find it enjoyable and entertaining myself.  The stories for the episodes are really well written and they often include inside jokes that will make parents chuckle without the kids realizing something humorous is going on.  More importantly, the shows contain important educational messages and themes with teachable moments children can learn from while they are being entertained by the show. I am a big proponent of finding ways to incorporate FUN into learning as an educational tool.  I believe parents should be careful in limiting the amount of television that children watch, but also some tv programs like ARTHUR can be a beneficial experience for kids too and are a fun way to help your child with learning some life lessons.

In its 16 seasons on PBS, ARTHUR has approached some weighty subjects in an age appropriate manner for young children:  adoption, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, the death of a pet, dyslexia, and food allergies.  As the parent of a daughter with a severe food allergy, I really appreciated the episode “Binky Goes Nuts” which dealt with the topic of peanut allergies (watch it here or click on the video at the bottom of the post).  For more information on the educational elements of the show, CLICK HERE, for a great post on the PBS website written for teachers on how to utilize ARTHUR for their lesson plans.

Each half hour episode of ARTHUR is divided into two 15 minute stories.  New episodes of ARTHUR have been on hiatus since December 2012, but Season 16 continues from May 6 – 10, 2013 with 5 brand new episodes (10 stories).  This week ARTHUR will be addressing a new issue for its young audience, the topic of BULLYING.  As a kid, I was personally bullied to the extent that it still has negative consequences on my own self esteem and confidence. Based upon the incidents I experienced in my youth, I’ve devoted a significant portion of my professional career as an adult addressing the topic of reducing bullying in our society. So I am excited to see ARTHUR tackling this topic in its newest episodes!

Airing on Monday, May 6 in the story “The Last Tough Costumer” the school gang known as the “Tough Customers” realize it is time to stop bullying and find a new hobby.  But can their leader Molly ever truly change her ways?  Than the week concludes on Friday's episode with the story “So Funny I Forgot to Laugh” where Arthur thinks his jokes about Sue Ellen are in good fun but her feelings are hurt.  Has Arthur become a bully?!

Check out this clip from “So Funny I Forgot to Laugh” dealing with bullying:

According to PBS, other new episodes airing this week include:

“Brain’s Chess Mess”
Brain starts a chess club at school to improve his game and beat Los Dedos, the local chess master. Who knew the best player in the club would be…Rattles?!?

 “Baseball Blues”
It’s Grebelings season and George can’t wait to play! After all, no one knows more about baseball than George. But when he realizes knowledge of sinkers doesn’t guarantee success in the field, will he throw in the towel?

“Brain’s Biggest Blunder”
When Brain gets teamed with Buster and Binky in the annual Arithmattack competition, he immediately enrolls Buster in binomial boot camp. Can Brain transform Buster into a mathematic marvel? Or will he be forced to eat humble pi?

 “Buster’s Book Battle”
Lakewood Elementary has just instituted IRP; a program where kids can earn points (and prizes!) for reading. Buster’s thrilled and gets to work straight away! But will he earn enough points for a skateboard?

“On the Buster Scale”
Buster and Brain never agree on movies. Buster rates every film a 10+, while Brain doesn’t seem to like anything…Only one of them can be right…or so they think.

 “Fern and the Case of the Stolen Story”
The unthinkable has happened! Fern has writer’s block! Fortunately, Ladonna’s full of stories. Faced with a tight deadline, Fern decides to “borrow” the tales and simply change the names. Has Fern confused write and wrong?

“Sue Ellen Vegges Out”
When Sue Ellen decides to stop eating meat, Muffy and Francine compete to be the best vegetarian. Can they successfully resist meat? Or was this a missed steak?

 “Best Day Ever”
It’s a beautiful afternoon and everyone is reminiscing about their “best days.” Everyone, that is, except Arthur. Is it possible he doesn’t have one?

ARTHUR is a top notch show with great writing and stories that delve into important issues that is both entertaining and educational.  If you haven’t seen the show before I encourage you to check it out.

For more information on ARTHUR visit http://pbskids.org/arthur/