Kid Friendly Rating: A+
Target Age Group: Preschoolers
Episode Length: approx. 30 minutes
Network: Nick Jr.
Blue's Clues - Overview
Since its premiere in 1996, Blue's Clues has continued to stand out as one of the top five preschool series on all of commercial television. With its interactive, educational focus, Blue’s Clues was a pioneer in a new model of preschoolers’ television.
Blue’s Clues is an animated show with a live host, Joe (or Steve on older episodes), who guides children through the day’s adventure finding Blue’s clues. Blue is the cute blue puppy dog who leaves the clues, and Joe, along with the viewing children, must find and put them together in order to figure out what Blue is telling everyone.
The show’s educational focus covers a range of information from colors and shapes to numbers, letters and problem solving ideas.
Blue's Clues - Guide Review
Simple, structured and fun, Blue’s Clues delights children while at the same time teaching them about the world around them. While the show covers many areas of preschool curriculum, the most consistent focus is on problem solving skills.
In each episode, the clues left by blue must be found and put together to come up with an answer or idea. Through this process, kids are able to practice relating information and drawing conclusions. By thinking through the clues out loud, Joe not only allows children to try and draw their own conclusions, but he also exemplifies a process of thought used in analyzing the clues and drawing a conclusion.
In addition to the educational elements, Blue’s Clues engages kids through eye-to-eye contact (as Joe looks into the camera like he is looking and talking directly at the viewing child), pauses and breaks which give children time to respond to questions or prompts, and songs which become familiar to children who watch the show regularly.
Expand Upon the Blue's Clues Curriculum
- Play Blue's Clues with your child. Leave clues around the house that lead to something fun, and help your child figure out the puzzle and find the prize.
- Use the Blue's Clues concept to help your child learn in a fun way. For example, leave "Blue's Clues" around the house on an "apple," an "arrow," and a picture of an "ant." Help him or her figure out that the clues all started with "A." Then color an "A" picture or have an "A" treat.
