Watch, Play & Grow: Learning through Music & Diversity

In February, PBS Kids kicked-off the third season with a special Dragon Tales programming block. The third season has two new areas of emphasis - music and cultural diversity. In addition, a new character is introduced, Enrique, a six year old boy from Colombia who is being raised by his father and by his grandmother. and is slow in making friends. But Emmy and Max reach out to him and soon all three of them are experiencing fun adventures with the dragons.

The first episode addresses an issue that has an impact on many pre-school children, overcoming the fear of new situations and making new friends. Other topics covered in the third season include coping with a seemingly overwhelming task; overcoming embarrassment; having to deal with someone going away; learning the importance of teamwork whether you win or lose; persisting to try to help a friend feel better; being separated from a comfort item; learning something difficult and; learning to cope with not getting what you want when you want it.

WATCH

Take your children to the world of Dragon Tales which can be seen weekdays at 8:00 am and 12:30pm on WHYY TV12. Kids will enjoy the adventures, songs and characters as they learn how to handle and overcome everyday challenges.

PLAY

Help your children think about and appreciate other cultures with this fun drawing activity! First, talk to your kids about the variety of cultures that exist in the world. Then gather the following materials and get creative!

Although different cultures can have very different ways of celebrating certain events, often times they have some customs or ideals in common. Compare the way you celebrate the New Year to the way Chinese Americans celebrate!

What you'll need:

• Stamp pad and ink
• Paper
• Drawing supplies (pens, pencils, markers, or crayons)

First, help your child stamp thumbprints all over the piece of paper by pressing their thumb on the ink pad and then pressing it on the paper. Then have them draw features and accessories on top of these thumbprint "faces" to make each one different. When your child is finished, talk to them about what makes each face on the page unique and special.

** If you don't have a stamp pad and ink (or if you just want a neater version of this activity) you can help your child draw a series of circles or other shapes on the paper in place of their thumbprints.

GROW

A Birthday Basket for Tia by Pat Mora; Illustrated by Cecily Lang
Cecilia, a Mexican American girl, prepares a special basket for her great aunt's upcoming 90th birthday. The child's pride in her work is evident in her narration of the story, sprinkled with Spanish words.
Recommended for children ages 4 to 8

Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco
Natasha is demanding of her busy grandmother, Babushka. When Babushka lets her play with one of her old dolls, Natasha gets a dose of her own medicine when the doll comes to life. The Russian setting comes alive in spirited watercolors.
Recommended for children ages 4 to 8