Have you heard about “Creative Galaxy“, the new show for preschoolers on Amazon Prime Instant Video? It’s produced by Out of the Blue Enterprises with Angela Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Super Why!) serving as Creator and Executive Producer. The series was put together to help encourage kids to be creative, and to instill an interest in art as well as an awareness that art is everywhere and can be anything.
Creative Galaxy is an interactive art adventure. The main characters are Arty and Epiphany. Together they travel through the galaxy solving problems with art, featuring arts including crafts, music and dance. At the very end of each episode a real craft is showcased and featured, explaining how to recreate what Arty did step-by-step. At the end of the day the hope is that the show will help kids feel more comfortable with art, thereby causing them to want to enjoy and create it more themselves.
We had a Mom Knows It All family day this past week just to check out this show. Contributing editor Lara and her family joined me and CJ to check out the first ten episodes of the show. Here’s Lara’s thoughts.
We had R our 2 yr old and E our 3 almost 4 yr old watch Creative Galaxy. Big brother BC was also watching, but not necessarily as much as the girls. The episodes definitely grabbed E’s attention after a couple of minutes she was up in front of the screen. She liked Arty a lot and was responding and pointing to the questions he was asking. R seeing her sister getting evolved came up to the tv and started interacting as well. BC is 10 so he really just watched the show and what his sisters were doing.
The colors of the characters and background were very vibrant. Arty’s voice was very playful and the kids really enjoyed talking to him. It was a great creative idea to show actual kids doing a craft after each episode. It got E and BC to talk about things she wanted to make after the show was over. After two episodes in a row I noticed the kids attention started to wander, so I would recommend 2 episodes at the most in a row, as opposed to a viewing “binge” such as the one we went on. Overall it is a really creative show to get kids talking about and doing arts and crafts.
CJ and I watched as well. The show was interesting. I love the bright and bold colors. Artie, an “alien” is bright green. His friend Epiphany is purple with polka dots. The episodes are well sited for the shorter attention span of young children, with each 30 minute episode consisting of two shorter episodes. I loved that problems, or challenges, are introduced. I believe this teaches children to recognize that challenges are a part of life and something to be faced instead of feared. Problem solving requires thinking, which is always good. Crafts encourage development of fine motor skills, which is a good idea for preschoolers.
One of the things I liked best of all is that the show speaks to young children as opposed to at, above, or around them. The interactivity is great for getting children involved, whether it be trying to talk to and answer the characters on screen or trying to do the same craft.
Here’s one Lara’s Creative Galaxy inspired crafts.
1. Take either a ball of Styrofoam and cut it in half or get two half balls at the store
2. Trace the half ball onto a piece felt and place to the side for later.
3. Take a paintbrush and paint the outside of the half ball with glue
4. Put whatever color glitter you want in a ziploc bag, put the glued Styrofoam in the bag and shake it up or you can just tap the glitter all over the glue which ever you prefer
5. Let this dry for a little while about 20 min then decorate how you want to. We used sticker foam stars that we also glued as well so they didn’t pop off.
6. While the ball is laying on the flat side. Take a pipe cleaner and cut it into 4s then bend the tips of eat cut piece and stick it in the bottom of the half ball.
7. Flip ball over, get your traced circle felt cut it out and glue it to the flat surface of the ball
8. Take different size pom poms and create your alien and glue it to your felt
9. Take one more pipe cleaner cut it short bend then end a little and glue it to your alien head
10. Let dry overnight and then you have your own alien and space ship
CONNECT
Creative Galaxy website – Amazon Studios on Facebook – Amazon Studios on Twitter
How do you encourage your children to be creative?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
By posting his/her work and encouraging him/her to think in and out of the box.
I have Amazon Videos on my daughter’s iPad, I’ll have to let her watch a few of these episodes. I think she’ll love it. Right now she’s into MLP and MMCH but I think this is right up her alley.
We have Prime, but aren’t the primary members. Will have to sneak a view on my brother’s account!
No children but it makes me steam to think that art programs are being cut from schools. At least there are things like this!
I didn’t realize how much stuff you can do with prime. I have it and don’t hardly use any of the perks! I just might now. This will be great for when the little ones come over!
what a cute art project and fun show. My son loves taking art class at school.
I love when art is introduced to children. It angers me when I think that it is no longer required in schools-if they even have the program any more.
These images are so cute. I love that they inspire kids to get creative and to make some art of their own.
Since my girls are older I have never heard of these. But I think they look awesome.
I’ve never heard of Creative Galaxy before, but it looks great! And obviously had your littles entertained!
What a cool idea! I have never heard of Creative Galaxy and i have a 6 and 6 1/2 year old. I will have to look into this for sure. My daughter in particular loves to do crafty things.
My daughter loves watching this show so much!
I like that it lets you get right in there and get involved. And you’re right, talking ‘to’ the kids is always awesome. My son’s teacher does that, I like it. It does look really cute.
Creative Galaxy looks really cute. I have never seen it but can appreciate a good toon with learning crafts and such.
Wish I’d known about this when my grandkids were small.
Cute craft! We loved the show, too, and made little Epiphany dolls out of felt.