TORONTO – Next time your kids insist they are still doing their homework with the TV on they may be right if it's tuned to TVOKids which has two programming blocks: Gisèle's Big Backyard and The Space which are designed to help children build the skills necessary to be successful in school.
"This fall, TVOKids presents exciting new math, science and literacy focused programs that align with the Ontario school curriculum and inspire learning," says Pat Ellingson, TVO's Creative Head of Children's Media. "As parents, it's important to continue the in-school learning experience at home by providing children with additional support and tools. TVOKids is proud to be educational partners with parents by providing the resources needed to help children succeed."
Materials are also available online and via kid-friendly apps for mobile devices. For those looking for extra help with math, science and literacy, the TVOKids Homework Zone is a go-to resource providing curriculum-based TVOKids shows, teacher videos, and online educational games.
Aimed at children aged two to five, Gisèle's Big Backyard is based on the Ontario kindergarten curriculum, and airs weekdays from 6:00 am to 3:30 pm and online at tvokids.com. Gisèle's Big Backyard debuts segments of This and That Shop's financial literacy series Carney the Coin Counting Cat and premieres new literacy segments The Letter Tree and Rhyme Time. Also this fall, Gisèle reads three new books in her Book Club segments that teach kids the importance of reading.
TVOKids' live and interactive after school on-air programming block, The Space, provides content that supports the Ontario school curriculum and airs weekdays from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm, weekends from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and online at tvokids.com. Premiering this fall are new literacy segments of The Reading Rangers starring Rangers Kara, Dalmar and Drew. Two new animated science programs, Green Squad and Mouk, both explore different places around the globe to teach kids about environmental science and encourage civic engagement.
Returning series for pre-school viewers include favourites Sid the Science Kid (Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 am), and Jack (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 5:00 pm). Starting October 15, popular programs Wild Kratts (Saturdays at 3:00 pm and Sundays at 10:30 am), and Making Stuff (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 5:30 pm) also return for viewers six to eleven years of age.
