DVDs Can Help Encourage Interactive Experiences (NAPSA)—Theright “playdate” can be an entertaining and educational experience. ihe a A favorite form of educational entertainment among parents are DVDsthat include favorite “Sesame Street” characters. Genius Products and Sesame Workshop have a “Play With Me Sesame”line, which in- cludes “Playtime With Grover,” “Good Night Sesame,” “Let’s Play Games” and “Imagine With Me.” Each vignette offers games andactivities that promote play and participation. Originally appearing on the educational channel Noggin, the vignettes marry classic “Sesame Street” footage with newly created gamesandactivities. By encouraging interactive learning, the line helps preschoolers express themselvescreatively, prac- tice important cognitive concepts and cultivate the social skills that can help them succeed in school. “The DVD ‘playdate’ created by the ‘Play With Me Sesame’ line allows children to have social experiences with others in an informal environment,” said Rosemarie Truglio, Ph.D., vice presi- dent of education research for Sesame Workshop. “Places like the home provide comfortable set- tings for children to learn through free play and exploration.” A personal “playdate” with a favorite character can help chil- dren work on social skills that will serve them well in school. In “Playtime with Grover,” Grover encourages preschoolers to engage in interactive play while learning fundamental concepts such as opposites and size relationships; “Good Night Sesame” encourages preschoolers to use their imagination as they settle down with gentle fun andlearn the importance of naps and resting; in “Let’s Play Games,” game show host Guy Smiley invites children to play exciting, interactive games along with their favorite Sesamefriends; “Imagine With Me” empowerspreschoolers to use their imagination for interactive play as they learn social-emotional concepts such as friendship and coping with a fear of the dark. The DVDs use educational research to create engaging and enriching content.
