CBeebies brings kids box sets to BBC iPlayer for half-term
David Farnor | On 23, Oct 2018
The BBC is making sure little ones won’t be short of things to do this half term, with CBeebies launching several BBC iPlayer box sets for kids.
Children can watch the full series of some of their favourite CBBC programmes on the catch-up platform this half term. All five seasons of the popular drama Tracey Beaker, reality drama The Next Step: The Stacey Carpenter Scholarship and the full series of The Dumping Ground: The Joseph & Taz Files and The Dumping Ground: Sasha’s Contact Meetings are available to watch as box sets online.
They mark iPlayer’s growing push towards keeping box sets on the service for as long as possible to compete with Netflix and other streaming platforms, with old shows such as Pride & Prejudice and new hits such as Informer available in full for several months. They also mark CBeebies’ increasingly innovative approach to digital kids’ entertainment.
The BBC has launched this eek a major new CBeebies app and also new bedtime stories on smart speakers for children.
Available in app stores from today, Get Creative allows children to create music, design their own toy and even direct their very own CBeebies episode. When little ones open the app they will get to pick a CBeebies buddy from Hey Duggee, Go Jetters or Bitz and Bob before heading down to the Get Creative factory, where all the magic happens.
At launch, there are four activities in the factory to choose from, with more to come in future, all cleverly designed for 3-5 year olds to use on their own or with an adult. And depending on which CBeebies buddy kids choose, each activity will take on a unique flavour.
Magic Paint: a unique drawing game where kids can use a variety of tools like crazy tape, stickers and paint that come alive as they use them
Terrific Toys: a digital toy creator, where kids can build their own CBeebies toys and play with them in a special playground
Sound Doodles: kids can create music with their doodles, with each squiggle able to make a range of sounds and noises
Play Puppets: kids can even direct their very own CBeebies episodes by animating puppets and recording their performances
BBC iPlayer box sets
Following the launch of the BBC Kids skill on Alexa smart speakers last month, little ones can now also enjoy Bedtime Stories from some of the UK’s most famous voices simply by asking for them. Saying ‘Open CBeebies’ will give people the chance to hear stories from American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and actors Mark Bonnar and Pearl Mackie. More exciting new stories from other well-known names will be coming soon.
Lucie McLean, Head of Childrens Products, BBC Design & Engineering, says: “Get Creative is a brilliant example of how we are offering children new and exciting ways to interact with their favourite CBeebies’ characters. The app aims to spark kids’ imaginations through fun, exploratory experiences and open-ended play and I’m sure parents and children alike will enjoy getting creative this half-term.”
