Disney comes alive in your living room<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Preschool-aged children of between two to five years old are the
\nmost neglected segment when it comes to television programming,
\nmainly because this age group is the most susceptible to
\ninfluence and therefore, the most difficult to serve.<\/p>\n
Many programs directed at preschoolers fall flat because they
\ncannot hold the toddlers' attention for long, become too preachy
\nand underestimate the kids, or get on the wrong side of parents
\nbecause they fail to be educational and fun.<\/p>\n
\"So you can appreciate the difficulty in creating these
\nprograms,\" Raymund Miranda, vice president and managing director
\nof Walt Disney Television International for Southeast Asia and
\nKorea, said here recently.<\/p>\n
Rising to the challenge, Walt Disney Television International
\nhas introduced a special 24-hour channel designed especially for
\nchildren between two to five years old, the Playhouse Disney
\nChannel.<\/p>\n
The Playhouse was originally broadcast in the United States in
\n1999, then expanded to the United Kingdom the following year.<\/p>\n
\"We've been preparing for the last three years for Asia;
\npreschool programming that's safe, wholesome and good for kids;
\nTo help them grow up and be a stimulus for kids,\" Miranda said.<\/p>\n
The Playhouse was created together with child education
\nexperts and is based on early childhood specialist Renee Cherow-
\nO'Leary's Whole Child Curriculum.<\/p>\n
The curriculum is aimed at stimulating a child's thinking
\nskills, developing motor skills, imparting early academic
\nlearning, instilling moral and social lessons, and encouraging
\ncreativity and artistic expression.<\/p>\n
\"We've also worked with Asian child experts to make them (the
\nprograms) work in Asia,\" Miranda added.<\/p>\n
The Playhouse's key programs include Rolie Polie Olie, which
\nteaches children about relating to and cooperating with others;
\nStanley, which focuses on developing the imagination while
\nteaching early academic learning; The Book of Pooh, which focuses
\non literacy and academics through Winnie the Pooh characters;
\nPB&J Otter that deals with thinking skills; and Jim Henson's Bear
\nin the Big Blue House on emotional growth and social skills.<\/p>\n
Music is synonymous with Disney productions, and the Playhouse
\nDisney Channel abounds with catchy simple tunes with which
\nchildren can sing along.<\/p>\n
The programs boast Disney's animation expertise -- whether
\ntwo-dimensional, three-dimensional or puppetry -- together with
\nlive hosts Monica, Colin, Jeremy, Kaeng and Zack.<\/p>\n
Parents and other caregivers are also included in the
\nequation. Understanding the key roles these adults play in
\nchildhood education, the channel's website
\nwww.playhousedisneychannel-asia.com provides activity sheets,
\nrecipes and stories based on the programs for caregivers to use
\nactively in rearing and teaching children.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the parents and caregivers are the ones who holds
\nsway over the channel. Although the channel provides programs 24-
\n7, \"we do not encourage kids to stay up late\", Raymund said,
\nadding that the purpose of the round-the-clock schedule was for
\nthose occasional times when \"for any reason, parents want to turn
\non the TV and make sure that the programming is safe for
\nchildren\".<\/p>\n
Playhouse Disney Channel can be viewed on Kabelvision, Channel
\n51. Please check your local cable guide for a complete list of
\nprograms and air times.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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