Meet Sprout

 Guest Post from PBS KIDS Sprout

Hi Moms and Dads!  We’re PBS KIDS Sprout - the first 24-hour preschool channel featuring shows kids love and parents trust, such as Sesame Street®, Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™ and much more.  From morning to night, we’re a place where parents and kids share everything from singing and dancing to birthday wishes and bedtime stories.  So no matter where you are in your day, there’s always something to share with Sprout!

Thanks so much to Megan for inviting us to guest blog on her site so that we could introduce ourselves to everyone.  We are so excited to be going to BlogHer this week.  This is our first time attending the conference and we're looking forward to meeting everyone and learning more about the moms behind the blogs!  We look forward to chatting about how we could work together on some fun projects in the future. 

Sprout is unlike any other kid’s network out there because we’re truly interactive.  We feature kid’s artwork, birthday cards, videos and photos every day on TV as part of Sprout’s original programming -- like the live Sunny Side Up Show where our hosts share viewer-submitted birthday greetings, weather reports, artwork and more each morning through submissions sent to us from moms and dads just like you via our website, www.SproutOnline.com.  Sprout relies on parents to participate in our daily programming and give us feedback on how we're doing, so we're really looking forward to making new friends and learning how we can continue to better serve moms, dads and their preschoolers. 

We're especially excited to be co-sponsoring The People's Party on Thursday night from 8-midnight at the Westin.  We hope you can swing by!  Look for Shannon, Jenni, Rebecca or Ken at the party and also during breaks between the conference sessions on Friday and Saturday at the Sprout exhibit table where you can meet Cow Bella , one of the brand new Pajanimals from The Jim Henson Company and 4Kids Entertainment.  This is Cow Bella’s first public appearance and all the BlogHer attendees will not only be the first to meet her in person, but they will also get an exclusive sneak peek at the Pajanimals musical series that will be debuting exclusively on Sprout in November. 

If you're not yet familiar with Sprout or don't have the 24-hour channel, check us out here and call 1-866-9-SPROUT to request Sprout in your neighborhood.

Comments

[Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children]

I'll be there with bells on! And red shoes!

[motherbumper]

Going to check out the Sprout link now :) Look forward to meeting you on Thursday.

[Robin (PENSIEVE)]

What a great idea in programming! One-stop shopping for the pre-school set. :)

Though I won't be at BlogHer, I had to applaud your inclusive approach to Sprout; involving parents gives them ownership, loyalty and a chance to show off their (our) pride and joy. That's an angle I haven't seen before with children's shows (at least not to the degree you've indicated).

Also, BRAVO to you for understanding the power of Blog...especially moms who blog. It really is an amazing phenom--realizing that our words affect others. I know personally, that I've bought products or altered my opinion (good and bad) based on what I've read from those I've learned to trust in the blogosphere.

LOL, there will be PLENTY of pictures of Miss Cow Bella filling up blog posts after The People's Party. Pity I won't have opportunity to meet her (and y'all) in person.

[MeL]

We recently discovered the wonders of Sprout On-Demand. I've watched enough episodes of Thomas and Friends with the toddler to scramble my brain, but he's never been happier.

Looking forward to the party and to checking out the Sprout goodies!

[jen]

Ken, Sprout rocks and we are so lucky to have you with us on Thursday.....200 or so women, 1 dude, nothing to worry about at all. Seriously, thank you very much.

[Rock and Roll Mama]

I second Motherbumper...kudos to you for understanding the impact of this community, and being involved in a meaningful way.

I won't be at BlogHer this year, but look forward to seeing the pics from the people's party!

Lindsay

[Ken]

Thanks Jen. Fortunately my wife and two daughters have prepped me and my son well for being outnumbered. I'm looking forward to everyone!

[Jenny, Bloggess]

Can't wait to meet you on Thursday! Can you bring some muppets? Because that would be awesome.

[Ken]

Jenni's in charge of the muppets. I just clean up after them. See ya Thursday.

[Catherine]

Love Sprout! We've had it for years. You inspired me to write them a little note http://pinkasparag.us/2008/07/15/dear-sprout/

[Kristine]

We are big fans of Sprout here!

I'm so bummed I'm not going to be at BlogHer. Sounds like I'm missing out on a great time.

Great job Sprout for recognizing us mommy bloggers as influential.

[Kat]

We love Sprout! We had it with DTV but now we just have plain old cable. We don't get Sprout with our current package but we watch it OnDemand A LOT! My littles are especially fond of Thomas The Train and Angelina Ballerina.
I'm a new blogger so I won't be going to BlogHer this year but kudos to ya'll for your great programming and committment to happy kids!

[Anissa @ Hope4Peyton]

Wow, SPROUT! Can I just tell you how much your programming has meant in my house? When my daughter was the sickest, she could only lay in bed tired and miserable and Thomas and Angelina Ballerina were two shows that were still capable of putting a smile on her face. For that we are so very grateful! It's awesome to see you getting behind the many moms who blogs and whose children need quality, meaningful shows to influence them.

Wish I could be there, it sounds like a good time!

-Anissa @ Hope4Peyton

[Megan]

I second (or third) the muppet requests! If I had thought that was even an option, that is all our calls would have been about these last few months.

Ken: So, what all do we need to bring?
Megan: Muppets.
Ken: Other than that, I mean?
Megan: Um, let me think, did I mention puppets?
Ken: No.
Megan: Then can you dress up in a costume with a big head?
Ken: Sigh...Can we have our money back, please?

*This conversation did not actually take place. What Ken actually would have said was, "You so crazy."

;) Thanks, Sprout! Most importantly, thanks for putting up with us. It will sort of only get worse at the party.

[Ken]

Yes, Megan and I will be performing our Penn & Teller act at the party since she does all the talking for me. Very funny, and I have actually worn a costume before my days with Sprout.

And a quick note to Kat about watching Sprout On-Demand, you're missing the interactive parts of the channel where you can submit birthday wishes to your child, their artwork and much more to be featured on TV. So tell your cable company you like it On-Demand but need to have the full 24-hour channel or call toll free 866-9-SPROUT and we'll do it for you.

[Beckie]

Alas, I will not be at BlogHer, as my little ones are still too little for mommy to leave for so long. But I am jazzed that Sprout is reaching out to the mommyblogger community! We are already HUGE fans of Sprout, and Sprout On-Demand. On-Demand has saved many a day for us, when DS would not be happy with anything but a Calliou marathon, LOL!!

[Amy in Ohio]

We watch Sprout all the time On Demand. Love it! P's attention span is short, but she grooves for a moment or two. I'm hoping to send video clips back home each day so I'll definitely come check out Cow Bella - I'll be a celeb in her eyes.

Thanks so much for sponsoring this terrific party.

[Amy in Ohio]

Just clarify, I'll be a celeb in P's eyes, not Cow Bella's eyes. I know Cow Bella's standards are very high.

[World's Greatest Mommy]

We are Sprout fans. I love that no matter what time of the day, there's at least one station that I can turn to that provides entertainment without commericals, and content that I have to be worried about.

Won't be at Blogher, but appreciate the committment to children's programming.

[missygreenthumb]

My little ones LURVE Sprout!! I really appreciate the 24 hr service as well... just wish Barney was NERVE on lol
We are mailing our birthday card for my 2 yr old next week!! Hope we get to see it on the air!!

[feener]

we have sprout. but my kids have not gotten into it. the morning shoes are not their favs, calliou, thomas, noddy, they do not like them. nor do i like the short shows. the only time i do have them watch is for teletubbies or barney - sometimes. but really we don't watch, we do noggin and disney. not sure what could help or change, but i am sure you are looking for feedback and there is mine.

[pgoodness]

Ah, Sprout. What ever did we do before we discovered the goodnight show?? Thank you for NOT putting Barney on at night. And thanks for Kipper. And even though personally, Caillou drives me nuts, my kids like him, so thanks for that, too. I'm intrigued to learn more about the Pajanimals! Keep up the good work

[Susan]

Oh my. Is this an ad? How disappointing that you would encourage other moms to let computers and TVs babysit their kids. Yuck. What would you do without Sprout? I got one answer for you --- Read to your kids!

[workout mommy]

we love Sprout in my house too! looking forward to seeing you at blogher. :)

[Busy Mom]

^ Oh, good grief.

We don't get Sprout, would love to have it.

[Lara]

i'm not a mom (yet), but i've been a nanny and i have friends with kids. i think sprout is a wonderful station with great shows. while i certainly don't advocate using TV as a babysitter - i don't think anyone here is, susan - i think many shows are great for opening up dialogues with younger kids. i used to love sitting with my friends' son and watching pingu; we would sit together and talk through what pingu was doing and asking questions about what might happen next. such fun! :)

kudos to sprout, and i'll be happy to shake your hand at blogher, even if i don't have kids of my own.

[Robin]

Oh, dear...

I didn't get the impression at all that Sprout is trying to co-opt the minds of preschoolers nor suggest parents relinquish their responsibility to parent their children. It's a "one-stop shopping" venue for children's programming and a spot for parents to be part of the offering. They're available whenever to accommodate the varied times a viewer would like to watch.

It was generous for Megan to "loan" Sprout her blogging spot a) to allow them to introduce themselves before the party they're co-sponsoring, and b) to introduce them to those who won't be in attendance.

[JCK]

Can't wait! I'm all over that happenin' Cow Bella! Thanks for sponsoring the party!

[JCK]

Yeah to Megan & Sprout! Can't believe it is already tomorrow night...