Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Coming to Nick Jr. in February!

Kai lan and Yeye.

Nickelodeon NZ will bring Ni Hao, Kai-lan to Kiwi kids in February 2009 – giving them the opportunity to learn Mandarin for the first time via a preschool television series.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is all about an exuberant Chinese-American girl named Kai-lan Chow, who wants you to come play with her and her best friends Rintoo the tiger, Tolee the koala, and Hoho the monkey.

The five-and-three-quarters-year-old Kai-lan speaks in English and Chinese with her bi-lingual buddies along the way. To them, speaking Chinese is exciting and empowering – and they always need your help to play interactive games and learn new Chinese words along the way!

The series focuses on issues common to preschoolers such as taking turns, dealing with disappointment and jealousy. Promoting and developing emotional intelligence Ni Hao, Kai-lan highlights cause and effect thinking in a child’s environment.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan provides simple coping strategies set to song that teach valuable lessons, as Kai-lan and her friends learn to identify their emotions and stop to consider the feelings of others.

Based on the childhood memories of creator, Karen Chau, who grew up in a bi-cultural (Chinese-American) household, Ni Hao, Kai-lan draws curriculum parallels with popular preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! and their use of Hispanic elements.

“Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego Go! have clearly demonstrated how much kids love to interact with beloved characters, as well as embrace new languages and cultures,” says Brown Johnson, executive vice president, executive creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool.

“Preschoolers will immerse themselves in Kai-lan’s world, while they learn Mandarin language and relevant social-emotional skills. We can’t wait for kids to see this incredibly vibrant and playful world come to life.”

Aside from introducing viewers to the Mandarin Chinese language, the series also presents elements of Chinese culture and values, multi-culturalism (through the diverse backgrounds of Kai-lan’s friends), and intergenerational families (e.g., Kai-lan and her relationship with her grandfather Ye Ye).

Ni Hao, Kai-lan premieres on Nick Jr. (SKY Channel 41) on Monday 23rd February, 2009, and will screen every weekday at 11.00 a.m.

Ni hao! It means “Hi” in Chinese and it’s how Kai-lan greets you every day!