In addition, Freddy and Pam also provide a source of parental supervision as they help their vehicular friends impart safety lessons. Whether they’re teaching the dangers of playing with matches, crossing the street, caring for a skinned knee or properly putting on a lifejacket, their approach is always gentle and non-threatening. With the variety of characters and issues they touch on, Rainbow Valley is ready to enlighten and educate with family friendly entertainment.Aside from the safety and self-esteem tips, there’s an another bonus for children who watch the Rainbow Valley Fire Department: Research shows that 3-D animation aids in spatial intelligence - associated with advanced ability in mathematics, science and the performing arts - and certain cognitive skills for children ages 2 to 6.According to the Rainbow Valley Fire Department website, although primarily conceived to entertain little minds, the programming is also educational in its entertainment. “RVFD’s adventures are gentle, positive and non-violent, touching on themes of social integration, problem solving, vocabulary building and safety issues,” notes the website.Lazenby’s wife, Susan, agrees: “Not only did Dean watch the video, he watched every single part of the series and didn’t leave until he had seen them all. Dean was a bit disappointed that the videos were not ours, but belonged to the city; and is now thrilled to be able to see them again. These are very well done programs for children. I would have said that anyway, but it overwhelmingly passed the ‘kid test.’”Andy Van Sciver of the Santa Paula Citizen Corps Council first suggested purchasing the videos, which are being founded by a federal grant.The broadcast schedule for Rainbow Valley Fire Department can be found on the city Blog, http://ci.santa-paula.ca.us/blog/. Or just turn to Cable Channel 10; the show is running regularly throughout September.
Rainbow Valley Fire Dept. ready to become best friends with SP kids
September 10, 2008
Santa Paula News
Gusher, Speedy, Mile-High, Presto, Cranky and Pam the Paramedic are ready to become best friends with kids throughout Santa Paula in a relationship that will provide fun life-saving - and life-affirming - messages.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesGusher, Speedy, Mile-High, Presto, Cranky and Pam the Paramedic are ready to become best friends with kids throughout Santa Paula in a relationship that will provide fun life-saving - and life-affirming - messages. Rainbow Valley Fire Department (RVFD) - now being shown throughout September on Time Warner Cable Channel 10 - is intended for children ages 2 to 6, but is fun for anyone young at heart.“It’s perfect for the kids, even I enjoy it,” said Santa Paula Fire Captain/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Steve Lazenby, who tested the videos on his grandchildren. “I couldn’t believe it,” when his kindergarten age grandson Dean took so fast to the Rainbow Fire Department’s characters and messages. “All by himself, Dean made a family escape plan and designated a meeting place,” which Lazenby said was copied and posted at each door to the house.Although each segment normally runs eight minutes, Santa Paula Fire Captain Jerry Byrum edited them into 30-minute shows for the area cable broadcasts.A strong fire safety message is if your clothing catches on fire to stop, drop and roll. “Stop, drop and roll, stop drop and roll... there’s a song for that too, and those are the only lyrics, but the kids love it and learn from it,” Byrum noted.“They flow real well,” Lazenby said of the edits. And, he added, at Friday’s Ready Santa Paula! emergency preparedness event “I had people tell that their children had watched Rainbow Valley Fire Department on cable before the event.”Using bright-colored and visually captivating 3-D images, each RVFD character has distinct qualities to help teach children a variety of subjects: Gusher teaches how to overcome our fears. With Speedy children learn self-acceptance as she learns to accept herself. Mile-High teaches teamwork and friendship. Spatial and cognitive skills are learned through ingenious Presto, and Cranky the clock does what clocks do best, teach us how to tell time. Pam the Paramedic helps teach tolerance of others.
