MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC‘s children‘s channel CBeebies is urging children to get off the sofa and get active this summer with two new series which encourage youngsters to get out, get moving and enjoy the great outdoors.
Mighty-Mites is a new series, presented by Sarah-Jane Honeywell, which inspires children to get up and have a go at a range of exciting activities – from circus skills to indoor skiing.
Big City Park meanwhile, is a new puppet and live-action series set in a city park in Northern Ireland, which urges children to get out and about and explore what the great outdoors has to offer.
CBeebies‘ new Controller Kay Benbow says, "The weather forecasters are already predicting a scorching summer but we want to encourage our viewers to get out and about whatever the weather. These inspiring new series are all about enthusing children to discover the joy of the outdoors or the excitement of learning a new activity, whatever their tastes, ability or budgets".
From go-karting to kite-flying and pond-dipping to pottery-painting, energetic new series Mighty-Mites inspires children to get up and try out different sports and activities.
In each episode, bubbly presenter Sarah-Jane (Tikkabilla, Higgledy House) and excitable and inquisitive puppet "Go-Joe" take two children on a journey to try an activity for the very first time.
Sarah-Jane and Go-Joe share the activity alongside their friends to help empower and encourage them in the new experience – but it‘s not just the presenters doing the hard work.
The series also encourages children watching at home to get involved in a range of activities by learning the actions and taking part in interactive quizzes.
Set in a Belfast Park, Big City Park is about the adventure of finding nature‘s hidden treasures.
A celebration of the outdoors, the series captures the park through the changing seasons, be it rain, hail, sleet or shine – proving that there is "no bad weather, simply inappropriate clothing".
Each episode, May the friendly park-keeper, Ruairi the mischievous caretaker, Dara the streetwise city fox and Billy the excitable badger welcome a group of enthusiastic, welly-clad explorers to the park for a day of treasure-hunting, game-playing and story-telling.
Together, they let their imaginations run wild as they explore their surroundings, gathering the park‘s natural bounty for Ruairi‘s special treasure chest.