Nick Jr. Beyond the Backpack
By Erin Brereton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Personalized help preps kids for preschool success.
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Nick Jr. Beyond the Backpack
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Based on 2 parent reviews
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What’s It About?
Beyond the Backpack's activities focus on preparing kids to start school. The content, described as a complement to Nick Jr.'s preschool-age programming, focuses on five areas: family engagement, health and wellness, literacy skills, social and emotional skills, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills. Parents provide input to get customized learning materials from the site, which has an advisory committee that includes organizations such as the Association of Children's Museums, Jumpstart, and Common Sense Media.
Is It Any Good?
NICK JR. BEYOND THE BACKPACK offers plenty of kid-centric activities -- featuring familiar characters kids may recognize -- but parents navigate the experience. After answering 15 questions about their child's development, parents get a learning plan and accompanying game board listing activities tailored to their child's educational needs. A read-along Dora the Explorer story book, for example, in the Social & Emotional section illustrates the importance of saying thank you. A printable passport activity can help kids learn their home addresses. Activities generally feature clear, detailed instructions, which are often read out loud and illustrated in brief videos.
For a site that essentially serves two audiences (children and adults), Beyond the Backpack has done an exceptionally good job of addressing both groups' needs. Parents and children can (and should) be experiencing the site together. Kids should enjoy the diverse activities, many of which are interactive. Plus, parents can easily tell, thanks to the learning plan and the information included with each exercise, which specific skills their child is practicing, ensuring that they get something worthwhile and educational out of their online time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about helping kids identify their favorite subjects. Does your child like to learn about animals, stories, or another topic? Research the topic together at your local library to find out more.
Beyond the Backpack gives kids virtual backpack stickers for completing tasks. Does your child struggle with chores or learning assignments? Create a chart together that illustrates progress and provides check marks, stickers, or other rewards for finishing things.
Talk about starting school, which can be an emotional experience for some children. Prepare your child by building excitement about what a typical day in kindergarten involves.
Website Details
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, reading, Math: counting, patterns, shapes
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, problem solving, Emotional Development: identifying emotions, perspective taking
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Numbers and Letters
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: November 5, 2015
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