This May, executive producer Joel Tanis releases two additional DVD episodes from the newest season of TBN’s Emmy Award-winning children’s TV show “Come On Over!”
The series, which first captured the hearts of children ages 4-8 back in 2006, models creative play for kids and their families. With its friendly vibe, fun antics, and surprise guests-including Grammy Winners Jars of Clay-the show is a must-watch among kids and families.
Using his art studio and backyard as the primary setting, Joel and his quirky cast of friends and neighbors-including Ceci LeBarge, Brandy, Grandma Zippy, Hedge, and Mr. Flabbinjaw-burst into music videos, whimsical make-believe, hands-on arts-based projects and a number of faith-building activities for kids.
Since last fall, children have been tuning into the new season of the show on TBN’s Smile of a Child Network, where they can watch the wonderfully wacky shenanigans of Joel and the gang . Each DVD episode is being released in contingent with the episode that airs on TBN.
In the newest installment, Who’s Your Brother? (Zonderkidz; May 2012; $12.99), Joel plays ‘the guessing game’ with Mr. Flabbinjaw and relives his childhood by reinventing the games he used to play with his little brother, Stevie. And, in Be Who You Are (Zonderkidz; May 2012; $12.99), the gang helps Joy look for her lost pet and shares their fears with one another.
Blending the heart of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” with the silliness of “Pee Wee’s Playhouse,” each “Come On Over” DVD includes a series of video shorts that take the themes of the day and show how they fit into God’s Creative World. Other video shorts give families fun ways in which they can creatively play together.
The following is a list of other ways each 24-minute episode inspires children and families:
- Kids get to learn through creative play. Children learn useful social skills through play, like how to cooperate, how to negotiate and how to act kindly. They also develop their minds and bodies through play as they explore, imagine and create.
- Each episode models playing with the arts, playing to learn and playing for a better life. The arts include music, dance, theater and visual art – and have characters that model these areas. Playing to learn is when play helps us discover parts of God’s joyful world like bubbles or bees or reading. Playing for a better life means using play to explore things like moods or fears or family.
- It encourages families to play together. All of the great things children explore through play can be accented when interacting with grown-ups. When playing, grown-ups can model cooperation, kindness and joy. Playing allows families time to deliberately interact. Both Who’s Your Brother? and Be Who You Are DVDs include written and video material to help families play and pray together.
Catch a glimpse of the new season of “Come On Over! : Express Yourself” (Featuring musical guests Jars of Clay) on YouTube:
ABOUT “COME ON OVER!:” “Come On Over!” is an Emmy Award-winning musical comedy for kids and families that models creative play. The 24-minute episodes follow Joel and his friends as they play through all sorts of situations and model healthy choices and family values. As needed, regular friends bring enthusiasm, encouragement, smarts, and even skepticism to the show. The themes of COO! are enhanced by faith-building activities that are a part of the DVD booklet. These materials include fun discussion points, games, and scripture that encourage families to play and pray together. To date, the show has won twelve regional Emmy awards.It also won two National Bronze Telly Awards. Joel Tanis is based in Holland, Michigan. www.comeonover.com