“Dora, Dora, Dora the explorer” goes the television ditty that lures kids to embark on an interactive, musical, magical adventure around the world. Cute, perky, spirited and gentle, little Dora is a character that every preschooler readily identifies with. Along with her best friend Boots the monkey and her talking backpack and map, Dora engages children in an interactive play with plenty of singing and dancing. Children are urged to use their imagination and intellect as Dora asks for their assistance in helping her overcome obstacles on the way and thus begins a learning process in the little minds.
Dora the Explorer is an animated show that airs on America’s Nickelodeon Channel’s Nick Jr, besides Noggin and CBS channels. First aired in 2000, this show teaches children to develop social skills like asking for help when in need, to help others who are having problems, to not be discouraged when faced with hurdles and to believe that there is always a solution, just the way Dora does. Unlike other cartoons, where children are required to mindlessly stare at the screen, the show ensures that children are active throughout and not just couch potatoes. Dora implores them to sing, dance, count and do all the actions that she does, keeping them on their little toes.
According to the creators -- Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh and Eric Weiner -- the show incorporates psychologist Dr Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences that includes seven core intelligences namely: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal, naturalistic and existential. Once the story idea is ready, the research team tests it on several preschoolers to see whether the episode will work with the target audience.
From initial story idea to the scripting, writing songs and recording music, to the drawing board to animation, each 20 minute episode takes about 12 to 18 months to create. Each character, movement, action and word is carefully thought out before it is presented.
Another USP of this show is the use of two languages, one native and the other foreign. Dora is a Latina, and so she speaks some basic Spanish phrases along with English. With Dora turning into a global phenomenon, the show has been translated into several languages such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Russian, Danish, Dutch, German and Spanish.
Other popular characters that are indispensable to the show include her cousins Diego, Alicia and Daisy, Isa the iguana, Benny the bull and Tico the squirrel, grumpy old Troll, the wily fox Swiper who is always creating trouble for Dora and her friends and the thirteen explorer stars that give her special powers to surmount any impediments that come in her way. Dora the explorer is a wholesome show that helps kids to develop their EQs and IQs with a scientific approach. Many characters as well as Dora the explorer merchandise are available online, that are greatly adored by children, teenagers and adults alike.
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