TVO

A new TVO live-action series aims to help preschoolers transition from home to school with friendly little Opie as their guide.

He’s a custom-built puppet created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop who experiences the successes and struggles of kindergarten along with his new real kid friends. An original TVO production, Hi Opie!, targets preschoolers and their parents who are also navigating a new world in the classroom.

“This fall marks the implementation of Full-Day Kindergarten province-wide and Hi Opie! provides kids the skills they need to make a successful transition into school, for the first time,” said Pat Ellingson, Creative Head of Children’s & Parents’ Media, TVO. “As Opie explores and reaches new goals, he helps role-model the ways in which children can excel in kindergarten and throughout school.”

Episodes deal with issues like sharing, needing to “go” but not wanting to abandon an activity, making friends and coping with lost stuff. The are also special guest appearances by media personality Pay Chen (The Pay Chen Show) and musician Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene) in the episodes, Not Ms. Doney and Opie Rocks that will especially connect with parents.

The series, which premiered on September 1, airs weekdays on TVO at 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. or check out the preview episodes at http://www.tvokids.com/shows/hiopie. Families can also access a virtual interactive classroom and play along with Opie at tvokids.com/games/hiopie.

Photo by Christopher Wahl