So I’ve expressed my opinions about television and children before. Despite the AAP’s recommendations, I still hold to “everything in moderation.” I have actually found that some of the programs my son has been watching have helped him learn to sign and speak. It’s not that I couldn’t teach him both of those things without the assistance of these programs. We read, we sing, we play, we dance… There are, however, some really wonderful programs designed to give parents another way to interact with their children. Let’s face it…I am not as creative as I would like to be and these programs introduce concepts in ways that I had not thought of.
Raggs is a new musical series designed for preschoolers (my son was a little young for this but still enjoyed it). It features five rockin’ dogs who play in a band and live together in their own clubhouse. Using music and humor, the Raggs introduce children to concepts such as play, work, objects, senses, and identity (who am I). What I find unique about the program is the interplay of multiple types of segments (animation, live action narratives, concerts, music videos and interviews with real children) to reinforce the theme at hand. Wag & Wiggle is a fun dance segment designed to get your children up and moving. No couch potatoes with the Raggs! Dumpster the cat talks to real children about the episode’s theme and adds his two cents to a dog’s life. My son was most captivated by the scenes with real children (something I’ve noticed when we’ve watched other programs).
My son has not watched a lot of television but from what we’ve watched together, this series is by far superior to most in it’s educational structure. Some of the goals the series sets out to address include literacy, visual arts, science and discovery, mathematics, social studies, music, dance, and movement. Check out the educational goals of this program in detail here. They may just change your perspective on how television can help children learn.
Raggs is a relatively new series which launched nationally in February of this year. Your local public television station will be adding the series to their schedules in upcoming months. Find out where your children can watch the Raggs here.
Watch a sneak preview here.
For online fun and games with the Raggs check out the Kids Club.
For Series 1 episode summaries, check out their site here.
Download the Wag & Wiggle Activity Tool Kit here.
Here is a fun intro to the Raggs. It’s actually a compilation of outtakes from the segment’s Dumpster interviews. Enjoy!
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