If you have kids, I imagine it’s impossible not to know who Dora the Explorer is, even if you haven’t seen the show yourself, because she seems to be absolutely everywhere. Kai-lan is a newer entry in the genre, introduced in February 2008. Now in its second season, “Ni Hao, Kai-lan” features a Chinese-American girl, her grandpa (YeYe) and several animal friends. In addition to teaching the Chinese language, however, Kai-lan aims to teach kids a bit of multiculturalism as well. For instance, some of the episodes I’ve seen involve empathizing with the character who’s upset or unhappy, and trying to see things from their perspective. (Has Dora ever tried that with Swiper?) Read more…
yes!
my daughter loves kai-lan so it’s nice to see validation that other people love it too. it doesn’t necessarily reflect us to a T — my daughter is filipino, korean, and caucasian — but it’s certainly a lot more relatable than the cartoon characters i grew up watching.
i don’t find it THAT hard to watch myself, but that’s probably because i’m already a big kawaii collector and all the characters on the show are just so damn cute.
i’m iffy on seeing all of the merchandise, but you know what? i find all of it loads better than the hypersexualized girly dolls, and i do agree that the megabloks set is at least more creative than just a dollhouse.
We’ve just discovered this show. My son is finally broadening out from his Wiggles fixation and we are starting to watch shows on PBS and Nickelodeon. After seeing only one epidose of Kai-lan, my son kept asking to see it again. (He calls it the “tiger show” because of the tiger character.) In that episode the tiger was playing too rough for his friends, and I’ve been trying to capitalize on that with my son. The songs are so obnoxiously easy to remember that after one viewing, I can sing that silly song and he remembers the show.
The show intrigued me, but we’ve only seen it twice so I’m interested to learn more about it. Did it originate in the US? Or is it a Chinese show that has been adapted for American viewers?
DD loves Kai-lan and we own the Travel to China DVD. She is immediately turned to me and asked me to tell her more about China (the country she was adopted from as an infant). She has learned a small bit of Chinese, just walks around saying xiao shegua over and over along with the other songs and actually started packing a bag to visit. Sadly that will still be a few years off.
Kai-lan was devleloped by Nick and postponed for nearly a year before they finally started airing episodes. The girl who gives Kai-lan her voice was also adopted from China.
I like that this show has a focus on emotional literacy, with all the “educational TV” out there, this is suprisingly unique. Not only does Kai Lan try to emphasize with how her friends are feeling, they talk about how the emotion feels, and good ways to deal with the feelings. I have overheard alot of kids sayinng “my heart feels…”
My Chinese-American daughters are also fans of Ni Hao, Kai Lan. Many of their non-Asian friends also watch so I appreciate the fact that it introduces Chinese culture and language to children of all backgrounds.
However, I question the degree to which my children identify with Kai Lan. In spite of the fact that we live in a somewhat diverse area, my children are self-conscious about their appearance especially the shape of their eyes. I don’t think they see themselves reflected in Kai Lan. What’s the balance between creating a caricature and erasing differences?
Ha, I’m in college and I LOVE this show! I don’t have the money/time to take a class right, but I love picking up random Chinese words from Kai-Lan. I’m want to be a social worker and my goal is to learn as many languages as possible. If NickJr. ever launches a cartoon based on a funky, smart, Arabic-speaking girl I’d be in heaven!
my daughter flips out if this show is turned off in the middle of watching it… i have never seen her do this with any other show… i read about other parents having the same problems with their own kids watching this show. im wondering if they are brainwashing our kids with secret messages… lol ready for the chinese takeover? or will our ni hao kai lan kids just give China the US of A just a thought.