Growing up, I hated cartoons. Before you go checking for a pulse or wondering if I’m actually a robot disguised as a girl, I should clarify that I liked TV and I loved movies, but I just didn’t like kid’s cartoons. Unfortunately for my kids, this dislike has continued into adulthood, and I just can’t stomach most shows geared towards kids.
What can I say? I like history, learning shows, and anything I can take away something from. All of this and more is why I love the new British Octonauts series for preschoolers age 2-6 on Disney Junior that is fun, engaging, and has my kids fascinated by all things under the sea.
The Octonauts TV show is based on the books by Meomi: Vicki Wong & Michael Murphy and features a team of 8 underwater explorers that work together to rescue and protect the inhabitants of the world’s oceans and teach kids all about marine life. Each action-packed episode takes kids on an adventure that gives an opportunity to explore the depths under the sea and all the various critters and creatures that live there.
What I love most is that instead of a show that merely throws in a few “lessons” or morals as a second thought, the Octonauts is based in fact, showcases great problem solving skills, and develops a love of knowledge even with its youngest viewers.
While the show is fiction in that there is no Octopod filled with heroes racing around the ocean floor helping distressed ocean dwellers, the show provides factual information taken from marine biologists about each animal they help. But, not only do they provide learning opportunities infused in each short episode, they also do an awesome musical “Creature Report” at the end of each segment that gives the bullet points of what they learned, helping the littler ones absorb all the fun facts they might have missed in the problem and resolution stages.
But, shhhh!, don’t tell my kids any of that. To them, Octonauts is simply a great show that takes them to places they have only dreamed of to see animals and creatures they will likely never encounter elsewhere. Although admittedly we don’t watch much TV around here and just about any kids show sends the littles running to the couch, from the very first episode it was clear that this show was going to be different.
As for me, I knew it would be one of my favorite children's shows as soon as I watched even a few moments of an episode. I'm not sure if it's the quirky accents, the adorable graphics, or the relaxed pace of the show, but whatever it is, I love it. If I had to choose one show for the kiddos to get into, it would most definitely be the Octonauts.
Even though up until now my daughter has shown zero interest in ocean dwellers of any kind, she is now so into the Octonauts {or “Octonods” as they call it} that she talks nonstop about narwhals, flying fish, sea horses and walruses. And then we went to a toy store the other day and she bypassed the snuggly owls, the bunnies for Easter, and the cute little kitties for a surprising pick… a stuffed octopus.
This is extra surprising considering that up until the moment she picked it, she named octopus as her #1 thing she was afraid of. Not being alone. Not the dark. Not wild animals indigenous to our area. Nope, an octopus. She’s so scared that she’s called me into her room in the middle of the night worried about an imaginary octopus, is so scared that she won’t even touch my son’s wall hanging that is shaped like an octopus and so scared that she won’t even listen to reason about how she will never, ever run into an octopus she’s not looking for. That kind of scared.
But, all that fear vanished in one sitting of Octonauts and now she sleeps with a stuffed octopus because it reminds her of her favorite show. I will hear her drifting off to sleep singing “creature report, creature report!”, reciting all the things she learned on the show while hugging her octopus tight. Go figure.
Whereas before she would ask to watch a show every week or so when we were at home, ever since the first episode of Octonauts she’s had a one-track mind. The good part is that I know she’s really learning something while she’s watching and because she’s not allowed much screen time, she has been working hard at keeping her room and play areas clean, helping around the house, and playing good with her brother to earn extra Octonauts time. Win, win.
Think your little one would like to hang out with Professor Inkling Octopus, Tunip the Vegimal, Dashi Dog, Tweak Bunny, Shellington Sea Otter, Peso Penguin, Kawzii Cat, and Barnacles Bear and go on missions to help marine animals? I have a feeling you will be as surprised as I was by the love of all things aquatic that will emerge as your child explores the oceans with their newfound friends – all from the comfort of home.
The Octonauts airs on Disney Junior at 6:30 AM EST/5:30 AM CT. You can visit the Octonauts TV show website to play games and see episode details as well as character profiles or follow Octonauts on Facebook.
I am thrilled to be an Octonauts Blog Ambassador to share how much my whole family loves the show. While this post is part of a sponsored campaign organized through Child's Play Communications, my review and opinions remain 100% my own.
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne.
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!
Thank you for sharing your heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful experience, and in such a heartwarming, inspiring, exciting, and delightful way!
I really enjoy your writing, Leanne. So much so, I shared what I had read here my husband. It reminded him of an Arthur episode, I also then recalled, and we thought your Dear Baby Daughter might be able to relate to and enjoy that episode, as well.
Here is a link to some background on the episode “D.W. All Wet”, it reairs occasionally on PBS stations: http://arthur.wikia.com/wiki/D.W._All_Wet_(episode)
Here is another with a related activity:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/ep_desc1_3.html
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/activities/acts/fear_no_more.html?cat=creative
Here is a link to help find when it might reair if you are interested.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/schedule/index.html
Thank you again for sharing, and for the great read, it was a genuine pleasure!