Imagination and play are two critical components required for children to develop physically, mentally, and socially. This is why it’s imperative to provide children with a variety of opportunities that can stimulate their imagination and encourage them to play.
One activity that effectively engages children while feeding their imagination is by allowing them to watch educational shows. Currently, there are several available to choose from. There are even TV channels designed only for the purpose of education and entertainment or edutainment.
Through the shows on these channels, children get to know special characters that inspire them, and whom they can emulate, and even consider as virtual friends.
Characters Children Love
And speaking of TV characters that children love, many of them are thoughtfully designed representations of personalities that everybody encounters rather frequently. For instance, all the characters on Sesame Street feel quite familiar because people, young and old, have encountered similar characters throughout their lives.
Big Bird, for example, is a lot like that friendly neighbor who introduces people around and is patient and nice even to the grouch on the street, Oscar. Meanwhile, Oscar the Grouch is quite like that neighbor who rarely smiles and complains about most things, but is no scrooge at all — he is actually kind and caring.
Children in the UAE adore these characters because they get to see the different dimensions or facets of an individual’s personality. Thus, it helps them to develop a sound understanding of what’s good and bad, as well as relational potentials with people.
Aside from Big Bird and Oscar from Sesame Street, there are still a lot more characters that serve as positive role models for young kids. Here are five of the other favorites.
1. Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas is the main character in the kids’ TV show, Thomas & Friends. He and his friends go on daily missions, which present them with different challenging situations to make a decision on.
Although Thomas commits blunders at times, he always learns the most important lessons from his tasks. He demonstrates happiness and pride when he does right, and remorse and the willingness to do things differently when his actions don’t yield good results.
Children adore Thomas because he’s a young and playful character, and of course, a talking train fits right into children’s colorful imagination. He is the train that preschoolers want to become.
2. Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder is another beloved character. Most children are fascinated with the idea of basic construction, and Bob shows them how it’s done.
Not only that, upping Bob’s cool factor is how he uses power tools and all kinds of building equipment that a lot of young kids dream of using. He demonstrates the proper way of operating tools and equipment and even takes the time to discuss the risks of not using building materials the right way.
Perhaps the best quality of Bob is how he’s a Mr. Build and Fix It through and through. But, he does it all with the help of his friends — both human and machine. He highlights the specific skills and capabilities of different people and machines. He and his crew are the epitomai of cooperation, which is a social skill that children need to learn for a healthy approach to life.
3. Angelina Ballerina
This cute little mouse is the perfect representation of a lot of young girls everywhere. She loves ballet and takes lessons from a devoted teacher, and she has a group of friends that goes on many adventures with her. On her adventures, she gets to apply lessons from taking ballet to different life situations.
Apart from her adventures, Angelina also deals with all-too-real personal hurdles such as anxiety before a crucial performance, and friendship complications.
Angelina Ballerina is a fun character to watch because you can truly see her dedication to ballet. She’s always practicing the fundamental moves for the dance, which gives young ballerinas and ballerinos a solid refresher of the lessons from their own classes.
4. Barney
Barney, the Purple Dinosaur, has been around for many years. For those who do not know him, Hollywood celebrities Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato had their start on Barney’s show.
And who doesn’t love this cuddly dinosaur who’s a friend to all young children? He offers hugs and advice through dance and song performances. His “I Love You” song will always be a children’s hit because it encourages physical affection, which is highly beneficial for the emotional development of young children.
Also, a lot of kids got their introductory course on colors, shapes, numbers, the importance of cleaning up or hygiene, and others through this show. Therefore, prior to attending preschool, they are already quite versed in many of the fundamental lessons preschool focuses on.
5. Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam is the central character of a highly rated kids’ TV show. Not only do children enjoy it, but a lot of parents approve of the show as well. Common Sense Media gives Fireman Sam a rating of four stars out of five.
The show teaches safety lessons, which children can understand despite their young age. It also delves into negative behaviors and their consequences. All these can help shape children’s ability to regulate their actions.
Additionally, there’s a lot of humor from Sam and the other characters on the show. Who’s not entertained by the interesting accents or the show’s quirky characters?
Treat Your Children to Encounters with Their Favorite Characters
In the UAE, children do not only experience their favorite characters through TV. There are different programs available that allow for a unique encounter with Thomas, Angelina, Barney, and so much more. Therefore, if you are looking for a fantastic activity to treat the little ones too, you can easily do so in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Keep your eyes peeled for concerts and mall shows. Likewise, visit amusement parks. UAE’s theme parks are home to numerous characters that children love, from TV characters to movie and literary heroes.
Kids get to see them perform live and even embark on thrilling experiences with them. Treating your kids to these will create beautiful memories they’ll cherish until they’re young no more.
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