Genre: Childrens educational
Age Range: Preschoolers
Network: PBS KIDS
WordWorld - Overview
The 3D animated series WordWorld incorporates letters into the characters and animation to help kids understand that letters make sounds and, when put together, spell words. The comedic plots center around the WordFriends -- Sheep, Frog, Duck, Pig, Ant, and Dog. The characters each have their own personalities and are on different levels of letter/word mastery. The animals are drawn as letters that form the shape of their bodies, so kids can see the word "Dog," for example, as they watch Dog.
In each episode of WordWorld, the friends tackle daily difficulties by helping each other and using their word skills. To solve problems or overcome challenges, they often "build a word." Viewing children watch as letters of a word come together and then morph into the object the word represents. Thus, as kids watch the show, they are also watching the letters and words that make up the objects and are able to better understand the connection between letters, sounds, and words.
Photo © PBS KIDS
WordWorld - Guide Review
Kids will enjoy the colorful world and funny animal characters in WordWorld. The animals are cute and silly, and while they might not be unique and relatable enough to become kids' favorite characters, children will still like watching them as they go about their word-building adventures.
In addition to entertaining kids, WordWorld effectively teaches them about the letter-word connection, which is an important concept in learning early reading skills. Kids get a clear and memorable visualization of letters forming words every time the animals use "word-building" in the show, and kids may also become familiar with the letters that make up the animal words by watching the characters consistently. The show makes an excellent supplement to preschool curriculum and makes TV time a little more productive.
WordWorld - Expand Upon the Curriculum
- Challenge your child to create an animal like the characters on WordWorld, using the letters from the animal's name. Kids will have fun being creative, and they will develop a more concrete understanding of the way letters come together to make words.
- Build words with your child using letter blocks, beads, or other letter objects. Use letter blocks to spell the word "train," for example, and push the blocks around like a train. Or, use letter beads to spell out messages for your child, like "I love you," or actions for them to do, like "spin" or "jump." You can play all kinds of games using letter and words, and your kids won't even know you are are trying to teach them something!
