About.com Rating

Bottom line:Peg + Cat: Chickens on the Loose contains eight stories (4 episodes) from the popular PBS Kids series for preschoolers. Kids learn early math concepts as they watch entertaining, modern and fun stories about Peg and her cat.
TV Rating: TV-Y
Genre: Children's educational
Guide Age Recommendation: 2-7
Runtime: Approx. 100 minutes
 

Peg + Cat: Chickens on the Loose - Overview

Chickens on the Loose contains the following stories from the PBS Kids series Peg + Cat:

• The Chicken Problem/The Space Creature Problem
• The Messy Room Problem/The Golden Pyramid Problem
• The Three Bears Problem/The Giant Problem
• The Dinosaur Problem/  The Beethoven Problem

Each episode consists of two stories that follow Peg and her cat as they solve problems that come up while they are on their daily adventures. Peg and cat use math and early math concepts as they sing, dance and play their way through solving problems. For more information about the show, read our parent review of Peg + Cat, and you can also watch a clip from Chickens on the Loose on the PBS website.

In addition to the show episodes, the DVD also contains some really fabulous printables and activities accessible through DVD-ROM. Just pop the disc into your computer DVD drive and you can get the following fun bonus material for kids:

• Pirates + Peaches Board Game: Print out all the materials necessary to create a fun and educational game.
• Four Fantastic Flip Books: Help kids create flip books and show them how animation works!

• Cat Sock-Beanie Instructions: Directions to make an adorable beanie version of Cat from the show. Involves some easy sewing, so it's a great way to introduce preschoolers to simple sewing projects.
• Peg + Cat Stick Puppets: Make cute puppet versions of Peg and Cat -- perfect  activity for young kids to get them creating both art and stories. Use the puppets to put on Peg and Cat plays!

Peg + Cat: Chickens on the Loose - Guide Review for Parents

Kids love Peg and her Cat for their simple yet fresh stories and the hip way they are illustrated, as well as for the silly humor and fun. Chickens on the Loose contains 8 stories (4 episodes) from Peg + Cat. In each of the stories, Peg and her cat are on a wonderful adventure or hanging out at home when a problem, followed by more problems, arises. Peg and her cat, along with the help of friends along the way, use math to come up with solutions for the challenges they come across. Fun and engaging songs serve to highlight key concepts in each story.

The two stories in the first episode on this particular DVD, "The Chicken Problem" and "The Space Creature Problem,"  are related in both curriculum and storyline, which is great for teaching kids and keeping them entertained.  The first story introduces kids to the concept of "100," and  the second story introduces counting by 10s to get to 100.

Other math concepts kids will see in the stories on this title include 2D and 3D shapes, patterns, counting by 2s, adding one to a number, and more. Parents can reinforce the concepts introduced in each of these stories in simple ways that will help kids understand the principles and retain the information. For example, try to use mathematical vocabulary introduced in the show throughout the day. Talk about how things are bigger or smaller, name 2D and 3D shapes as you and your child encounter them, or lay out 100 items such as cotton balls or marbles so kids can see what 100 looks like. Incorporating math into every day activities helps kids learn in fun ways -- no flash cards necessary. The Peg + Cat website also features tons of educational games that reinforce the curriculum of the show.

*Read about more math-based shows or other educational shows for preschoolers

 

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.