Arthur's First Day
By Stephanie Snyder,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic characters learn that change can be a good thing.
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Arthur's First Day
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What's the Story?
Summer vacation is over and it's ARTHUR'S FIRST DAY! Arthur is brimming with excitement for the start of fourth grade, until he finds out that his best friend, Buster, is in a different class for the first time. DW is nervous about starting kindergarten, and her first day is nothing like she anticipated. Muffy takes on the responsible role of being a Big Buddy to a kindergarten student, but by the end of the day, she must grapple with flaws she didn't realize she had. New friends (including Samir, the first Sikh featured on the show), new classes, and new experiences await the kids of Elwood City on the first day of school. What lessons will they learn?
Is It Any Good?
The long-running series Arthur has the recipe for a classic show that is appropriate and enjoyable for young viewers, and the one-hour PBS Kids special is no different. From the upbeat theme song to the lovable characters, kids will be hooked on Arthur's First Day, and parents who grew up on the original show will tap into the nostalgia of their childhood. Despite those warm fuzzy feelings, parents may start to tune out after another dream sequence that runs longer than necessary or the unrealistic portrayal of students who are rarely supervised by adults at school.
Nevertheless, the show does an effective job of capturing the positive and not-so-positive emotions related to the first day of school from many angles: kindergartners who are just getting started, fourth graders who know what to expect, and older kids who are seasoned enough to help others have a positive experience. This special is unique in how characters creatively solve a problem, which should give families plenty to discuss on the first day -- or any day -- of school.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about change in Arthur's First Day. How do Arthur and Buster feel about being in different classes? Why is this difficult for them to accept at first? What are some good things that happen because they're in different classes?
Arthur's First Day shows first day of school experiences for a number of students in order to show similarities and differences at different grade levels. How would you describe the first day of school for the kindergartners? How would you describe it for the fourth graders? What about for the older students?
What makes school fun and exciting? What makes school challenging? What do you most look forward to on the first day?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 6, 2022
- Cast: Roman Lutterotti , Melissa Altro , Bruce Dinsmore , Sonja Ball , Maggie Castle , Michael Yarmush
- Network: PBS Kids
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
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