I showed Mio an episode of the stop-motion claymation TV series Pingu for the first time today, and I’ve never seen her giggle so much while watching anything! Most of the time, she’ll look very serious and focused while watching video clips that we show her of Shimajiro and Sesame Street. Occasionally, she’ll crack a smile or two or stifle a chuckle… so it was really surprising to see her laughing so much and visibly enjoying the show!

Is it because she loves penguins? Or the claymation aspect? I personally have never been a huge fan of Pingu because it doesn’t have any real dialogue and just loud penguin noises, but maybe that’s the appeal to kids! I read that shows like Pingu “teach kids how to decipher a visual story; to respond to it in their own imaginative, creative ways; and, ultimately, to sharpen their skills for mastering media by using them critically.” Interesting! If you pay attention, the show teaches little social lessons here and there as well.

Well, I guess we know what Mio’s new favorite show is…