

PEEP and the Big Wide World
Fall 2008 WebsiteChildren will be most interested in the Games section with ten different interactive games featuring character from the show that teach skills such as pattern recognition, cognitive reasoning, counting, music and even color mixing. Thanks to verbal instructions, even non-readers can quickly and easily understand how to play. Each game begins on an easy level and adjusts the challenge according to the individual player’s skill level. One of the most impressive examples of this was the painting game which features three tubes of paint - one each of red, yellow and blue. Players are shown a colored circle on the fence and must squeeze colors from the tubes onto a blank area of the fence to make the color that matches the circle. The game begins with a color such as orange which requires the player to squeeze yellow and red to make the matching color. However, as the game advances a lighter shade of green might appear which helps teach children that different amounts of a color (2 squirts of yellow and 1 squirt of blue) can be used to create different shades of a color. Our 3-year old tester particularly liked this game and was literally laughing out loud when it came time to use the "hose" to wash off the fence - and Chirp - in order to move on to the next color.
Parents will enjoy the "Anywhere Science & Math Activities" available in the Activities & More section. These activities are grouped by location (in the kitchen, in the backyard, etc.) or by theme (plants, weather, water, etc.). Each activity includes instructions, a link to the content and area and location in which it is included, a link to the show the story is based on, and recommended books that support the activity. There are an endless variety of activities to choose from and each is fairly quick, easy and fun to do at home - and a great way to explore science and math concepts with your preschooler.