Target Age Group: Preschoolers
Episode Length: 4 stories totaling 16 minutes, often with additional segments for a total of approx. 30 minutes
Network: PBS KIDS
Caillou - Overview
Based on a series of best-selling Canadian children’s books, Caillou is an animated series for preschoolers which airs on PBS Kids and Sprout. Generally, each half hour block of Caillou consists of several short, animated stories about Caillou, all of which revolve around a certain theme. Live-action, puppet segments, and musical segments are often included within the time block as well.
Caillou is a four-year-old little boy who is experiencing the daily wonders and frustrations of growing up. His every day activities, and his interactions with his family and friends, are the basis of stories with which viewing children will easily identify. Children learn how to work through problems in their own lives as they watch Caillou, along with the help of his loving family, work through his problems. The curriculum of the series focuses on early social and emotional topics such as growing up, sibling relations, responsibility, overcoming fears, and many more.
Photo © PBS. All Rights Reserved.
Caillou - Guide Review
Why is it that practically every child between the ages of two and six who sees Caillou will instantly love it? Well, the stories are told about a preschooler in the language of preschoolers, and the stories all center around objects and events that are particularly exciting or relevant to preschoolers. It is like watching their own lives on TV, and what child wouldn't love that?
Every Caillou story seems to be a snapshot taken directly from a day in the life of some child or other. In one episode, Caillou is having fun mixed with frustration while helping his parents do the weekend chores. In another, he has trouble staying in his own bed. Kids identify with simple situations such as these, and parents have probably had to deal with them a time or two.
In addition to being familiar to kids, the show is also comforting to them. The dialogue is enhanced with intermittent narration by a woman who could be Caillou's grandma, making it sound like viewing kids are hearing a wonderful story. Also, Caillou's parents and grandparents speak in the kindest of voices, and they always know the right thing to say or do. Caillou's problems are always resolved in a positive way.
Because the show focuses on real-life situations, Caillou sometimes exhibits undesirable behavior. He always learns a lesson or a better way to solve his problems, but it is possible that some viewing children will mimic the problem behavior (at which time parents could just mimic the solution given by the parents on the show just to see how it works out in real life).
Photo © Four Me Productions
Caillou - DVDs
There are a plethora of Caillou DVDs available featuring episodes of the show and even a couple of specials. Check out these Caillou titles and compare prices. Also, here is an overview of the most recent Caillou DVD:
Caillou: Caillou Pretends to Be (compare prices): Enjoy 12 Caillou adventures featuring Caillou pretending and learning in the following four episodes:
- "Caillou the Helper": Caillou gets first aid from Dr. Mommy, helps police officers, and plays a game with Grandma.
- "Captain Caillou": Caillou plays with a remote controlled sailboat, visits an airport, and attends a wedding.
- "Caillou the Builder": Caillou learns about building as he makes a road in the sandlot, helps build a home for charity, and visits an apartment building.
- "Caillou the Scientist": Caillou learns about magnets, dinosaurs, and astronauts.
Bonus Features:
- Caillou's Music Videos: "A Helping Hand," "Growing Up," "Working Together," and "Let's Go to the Museum"
- Message to Parents
- Caillou the Paleontologist Game: This DVD ROM game has kids uncover dino bones, place them in the crate that matches their shape, and then put the bones together to reconstruct a dinosaur skeleton!
- Printable Coloring Pages
