Disney Channel Launches Playhous Disney +

Disney Channels UK has announced the launch of new preschool channel Playhouse Disney +, the UK's first 25 minute staggercast. Playhouse Disney + will broadcast to over millions of Sky customers alongside sister channel Playhouse Disney from 30 October as part of the 'Kids Mix' of basic channels.
Playhouse Disney uses creative storytelling and engaging characters to help make learning a playful experience for preschoolers. Shows like 'My Friends Tigger & Pooh', 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' and 'Little Einsteins' each tackle different areas of child development, from early maths to social interaction, problem solving to teamwork, and Playhouse Disney + aims to help reinforce these positive messages through repetition. The new adjacent channel positions at the top of page 2 of Sky's EPG mean preschoolers can now watch their favourite show again with one touch of the remote.
Parenting expert, Eileen Hayes commented: "Preschoolers love repetition. The cry of 'again! again!' will be familiar to most parents, whether it applies to songs and rhymes, games, playing with a toy or watching a favourite TV show. The reason for this is that very young children feel most secure when they have some recognizable structure and routine to their day, and the repetition of familiar things provides this and helps them to feel reassured about their world."
Rob Gilby, MD Disney Channels UK commented: "Playhouse Disney aims to help parents raise happy, well-rounded children and part of this is offering a schedule tailored to their needs. Most staggercast channels are based on the concept of timeshifting alone hence the standard plus one approach.
Playhouse Disney + takes into account both timeshifting and potential repetition, which we hope will offer more flexibility for parents and preschoolers."
The launch of Playhouse Disney + coincides with new series 'Bunnytown', a music-filled, humour-filled puppet variety show for preschoolers, produced at Elstree Studios. The show is designed to support children as their understanding of, appreciation for and participation in humour burgeons during preschool years. It premieres on Playhouse Disney at 3 November at 9am with an immediate repeat on Playhouse Disney +.
Playhouse Disney is one of the UK's leading preschool channels and became available to Sky customers as part of the 'Kids Mix' of basic channels on the 16th March 2006.
In June 2007, the channel launched Playing for the Planet, the first environmental initiative aimed at preschoolers, following new research that found parents were crying out for ways to teach their kids about the environment.
The Playing for the Planet guide is packed with interactive games, hints and tips on green activities for preschoolers and is available to download from www.playhousedisney.co.uk/playingfortheplanet.co.uk
Worldwide, Playhouse Disney has set the standard for preschool television with its learning-based programming that encourages preschoolers to imagine and learn through programming that is guided by a curriculum that is focused on multiple areas of child development.
Playhouse Disney programming addresses physical, emotional, social and cognitive development; thinking and creative skills as well as moral and ethical development through carefully constructed themes, storylines and characters.
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