The Format
The Wimzie's House format is ideal for integrating educational objectives into the show's fun and engaging plots. Each show begins with at least one of the characters having a particular project, adventure or problem that triggers the theme of the day. With the three act format, daily issues emerge for exploration. The special experiences of childhood are reflected in the dramatic situations and storylines of the show, which encourage audience participation in the lively activities at Wimzie's House. Possible solutions present themselves, as characters grapple with their feelings and differing perspectives. Act 1 and Act 2 end by songs that reinforce the nature of the issue at hand. As the show closes on Act 3, Wimzie and her playmates have learned more about living and growing together despite their differences.

The World of Wimzie's House: Its Setting and Characters
The action takes place in an extraordinary family home that doubles as a small daycare centre where children come first. The young viewers at home are invited to share the adventures that unfold within this fabulous house. The characters of Wimzie's House have the powers of childhood: wonder, amazement, laughter, tenderness, sensitivity, creativity, curiosity, and imagination. Because these strong and well-focused characters are inspired by a world of fantasy, they speak to the inner world of the child.

Yaya, Wimzie's grandmother, is a 150 year-old dynamo who has plenty of zest and wisdom to run a home daycare for her grandchildren, plus some of the neighborhood kids. Graziella, Wimzie's mom, flies airplanes for a living, so her job keeps her away from home quite often. Wimzie's dad, Rousso, works as a firefighter who loves to garden in his spare time. Both of Wimzie's parents are glad that Yaya is able to take care of Wimzie and her brother Bo, an 18-month-old bundle of energy. The other neighborhood children that Yaya cares for are an assortment of live-wires. There's Jonas, Wimzie's best friend, his younger sister Loulou, who looks up to Wimzie and Horace, who doesn't really like to come to daycare. A daycare full of little monsters! What could be more real?

Wimzie's House grew out of a joint effort by CINAR and Public Broadcasters Radio-Canada and Télé-Québec. In February 1995, CINAR invited renowned education and psychology experts from Harvard and Concordia Universities, UCLA, as well as long-term collaborators on Sesame Street to participate in a seminar to establish a curriculum. Spearheaded by Dr. Gerald S. Lesser and Norman Stiles, the team's task was to outline objectives for a series which features examples of healthy socio-affective behavior for youngsters to help them develop their social skills - all in an entertaining format.

The educational objectives of Wimzie's House support the child's development of his/her identity, reinforced through feelings of acceptance of self and of others. Self-esteem is stressed, as is the need for children to react with empathy when faced with their playmates' dilemmas. Difficult topics like friendship, generosity, collaboration, solitude, and jealousy are approached from the child's perspective.

Once the educational mandate was established, the crucial task of enthralling and entertaining the target audience was advanced. The central importance of the characters became clear. 3/Design Studio in New York, involved in many of Jim Henson productions, created puppets which would intrigue the imaginative universe of the child and touch his/her inner world. An impressive and seasoned writing team, headed by John Boni (All in the Family, Barney Miller and The Electric Company) joined the project. Using the format, the writers went to work weaving the educational objectives into entertaining storylines.

Three pilot episodes were then produced and extensively tested with the target audience by ARC Research, an independent consulting firm. The study, conducted in both daycare and home- based settings in the regions of New York and San Francisco, showed that children adored the show's characters and consistently bonded with them on a personal level. The study also confirmed that parents, caregivers and teachers believe Wimzie's House is unique in that it touches on important social and family issues experienced by the children.