Playhouse Disney Goes Green This October - Seeds available for green thumbed Aussie families

Playhouse Disney will "go green" this October, airing environmental-themed episodes of favourite Playhouse Disney programs and distributing seeds* to Australian families to grow their very own native plant.

To celebrate spring, this October, Playhouse Disney is featuring green-themed programming, including special episodes and stunts, as well as interstitials. The conservation-themed episodes of “Handy Manny”, “Finley the Fire Engine”, Bob the Builder”, “Higglytown Heroes” and “Stanley” will air on 3rd October from 3-6 p.m. during the “Handy Manny Gets Handy with the Earth” programming block. This block will feature the “Handy Manny” episode that was recently awarded first place at the 18th Annual Environmental Media Awards. These episodes feature helpful hints, taught in a fun and upbeat way, that will excite kids and encourage them to be more “green” in their daily routines.

In addition, look out for green planet tips from “Handy Manny” and “Special Agent Oso” that will debut in October. The interstitials cover topics like conserving water, recycling rubbish, planting a vegetable garden and re-using clothes. Also premiering on Fridays in October will be two-minute green-themed “Handy Manny Handy Helper” interstitials featuring Australian kids helping out around the home.

Whilst online at www.playhousedisney.com.au, families can enter their details to receive a special package of seeds* so they can grow their very own plant. Leptospermum Scoparium, more commonly known as tea tree or Manuka, is a white flowering plant with evergreen leaves native to both Australia and New Zealand. It can grow up to two metres in height and flourishes in many different habitats.

Also on the Playhouse Disney web site, pre-schoolers and their caregivers will find lots of helpful hints for creating sustainability in communities, fun games and activities with a conservation focus, plus children can even make their own online mini garden!

To celebrate the environmental focus for the month, the Playhouse Disney logo that appears in the lower left corner of the screen will be green throughout October and feature an image of Australia and New Zealand within the mouse ears (see logo above).

In other “green” happenings, “Dorothy the Dinosaur”, everyone’s favourite green dinosaur from Rosy Town, will premiere on Playhouse Disney on 5th October.

And finally, new episodes of “Handy Manny” will air throughout October as part of the “Get Handy with Manny Hour”, daily at 7:35 a.m. beginning 5th October.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of Handy Manny’s eco-friendly tips on how kids and their families can enjoy carrying out green tasks in and outside the home.

Outdoor Activities:
* Welcome the spring season by planting a tree together in the backyard. Kids can watch the tree grow as they grow, plus you’ll reduce your family’s carbon footprint.

* Create a compost heap in your backyard to reduce waste in our landfills. Use an old garbage can with a cover or build your own compost bin. Cover the bottom with moist dirt, grass and twigs and add your family’s coffee grounds, stale bread and vegetable peelings. Keep it covered, stir it twice a week and use the dark rich soil to plant a garden.

* Plant a garden of potatoes, carrots and corn, or basil, rosemary and oregano for all those upcoming barbecues. Teaching kids how to tend a vegetable or herb garden is a great gift that keeps giving throughout the spring and summer, and educates them on how to care for the land.

Indoor Activities:

* Save old tins cans and glass food jars to make cool pencil and marker holders. Kids can decorate them with paint and glitter, creating a more exciting art station in the house.

* String old keys onto unused hangars and create a fun new wind chime.

* Use old fabric from curtains, clothes and other items to create a quilt. Each child can make their own patches and hand them to mum or dad to sew them together using the insides of old pillows for stuffing.

Visit Playhouse Disney: www.playhousedisney.com.au

Babynews Release Date: 2nd October 2009

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