Are you planning a Nightmare Before Christmas movie marathon this Halloween? Build-A-Bear has the perfect stuffed friends to snuggle up with. The new Oogie Boogie and Zero plushies will be available exclusively on the Build-A-Bear website

Oogie Boogie

Roll the dice and gamble with Oogie Boogie. He even comes with a sound chip featuring the “Oogie Boogie’s Song.”

Jack Skellington’s beloved canine companion Zero is sure to bring lots of spooky snuggles all year long.

Zero

Build-A-Bear also sells Jack Skellington and Sally plush bears which can be accessorized with their signature Nightmare Before Christmas outfits, Jack’s suit and Sally’s patchwork dress, as well as songs. For Jack, you can select a song chip featuring “This Is Halloween” and for Sally, you can choose “Sally’s Song.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Build-A-Bear

 

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You’ve caught yourself humming the PAW Patrol theme song enough to know it’s one of your kiddo’s favorite shows. Now, for the first time EVER, Ryder and his gang of pups are heading out of Adventure Bay and taking to the big screen! Get your pup packs ready and head to your local theater to catch PAW Patrol: The Movie on August 20! Read on to get the scoop.

 

Head Beyond the Bay

Follow your favorite furry friends outside of their beloved Adventure Bay into the big, busy Adventure City where their arch-rival, Humdinger, has been elected mayor to disastrous results. But luckily, the PAW Patrol is on a roll, and they work together with a new pal Liberty—the city-savvy dachshund— to put things right.

 

Name That Pup

Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky and Zuma are joined by their new pal, Liberty, and an outstanding new cast of supporting canine characters. Listen closely and see if you can recognize the celebs behind the voices, including Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian, Tyler Perry, Jimmy Kimmel, Randall Park and Dax Shepherd. In addition, you’ll find a star-studded soundtrack by artists including Adam Levine and Alessia Cara.

 

Chase Is on the Case

To coincide with the movie premiere, Paramount is launching some paw-some new features for families! You’ll find coloring and activity sheets and even a way to get a personalized message for your kids from Chase

 

Better Than Ever

On air since 2013, with nearly 200 episodes (most of which we’re betting your kids have seen more than once), PAW Patrol: The Movie will thrill fans of the show in new ways while holding on to that core mission of the pups—do good, and be kind.

 

PAW It Forward

Just like the pups do, you can PAW It Forward! Parents, kids, and fans alike are talking about different ways they can pay it forward in their own community, whether at home, in the classroom, or with friends and neighbors.  

PAW Patrol: The Movie is premiering on August 20 in theaters and on Paramount+, so book your seats and be there on the double!

 

—Amber Guetebier

Parenting a pet is a lot of work, but new data shows that furry friends make life better. A survey of over 2,000 U.S. pet parents revealed that four-legged companions are calming, improve moods and “nourish the soul.”

A study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Fuzzy—The Pet Parent Company, found that pets are significantly improving their parents’ lives. Seventy-nine percent of pet owners said they wouldn’t be as happy as they are now without their pet, 76 percent said that having a pet nourishes their soul and a whopping 82 percent said having a pet in the house provides a sense of calmness throughout the home.

 

Just like parents of human children, pet moms and dads have their fair share of concerns. Almost half (44 percent) worried about becoming parents for the first time and over half (54 percent) didn’t expect to spend so much money on their canine or feline companion.

“Pet parents are often surprised by the unexpected costs and time required to be a good pet parent. From medical bills to toys for playtime it’s a full-time responsibility. Having a pet by your side, however, is worth the cost” says Dr. Cherice Roth, Chief Veterinary Officer for Fuzzy.

Survey respondents certainly seem to agree that it’s worth the cost. And even as the pandemic brought many unwelcome changes to the world, 69 percent said they used the time to bond with their pet more than ever before. Turns out your fur baby might be even more essential than you think!

—Sarah Shebek

Video courtesy of Fuzzy and OnePoll/Feature photo: Annenberg PetSpace

 

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If you’ve got a toddler, chances are you’d recognize the first beat of the Bluey theme song anywhere. But if the entire first season is also a little too committed to memory, never fear! Mum…Dad…Bingo…Bluey…they’re back next month!

Bluey Season 2 is coming to stream on Disney+ in May—and you’ll have 51 new episodes to choose from! “Hammerbarn,” “Dance Mode,” “Barky Boats,” and “Duck Cake” are just a few to watch endlessly with your brood (or by yourself since Bluey has plenty of clever content for adults).

The Australian animated TV series features the four-pup Heeler family and a large circle of canine friends. After it premiered on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2018, it quickly became the channel’s most popular children’s show and Disney scooped up broadcasting rights the next year, to the delight of families everywhere. Each episode is bite-sized at seven minutes long and humorously focuses on day-to-day life, including home improvement store trips and swim school.

If you don’t have Disney+ or want to try before you commit to the craze, select Season 2 episodes are available free of charge on the DisneyNOW app or Disney Junior. But trust us, Bluey is worthy of the screentime. Just don’t be alarmed if “Wackadoo,” “Dollarbucks” and “bush wee” become part of your vocabulary.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured photo: Courtesy of Disney

 

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Recently published research from the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus shows that therapy dogs can help children to build social skills.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, looked at the impact that working with therapy dogs had on 22 children from the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club over the course of six weeks. Researchers utilized therapy animals from the Building Academic Retention through K9s, or BARK program, to learn more about how the children could learn from and with the dogs.

photo: Sam Lion via Pexels

During the six-week program the children were taught new social skills, such as giving directions to other people. Each child practiced their new skill with a therapy dog—and then with the rest of the participant group. Following practice with the dogs and the other children, the participants then tried out their new skills with university students.

Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, associate professor in the School of Education and director of BARK, said of the program, “Therapy dogs are often able to reach children and facilitate their growth in surprising ways. We saw evidence of this in the social skills of children when they were paired with a therapy dog.”

Researcher and master’s student in the School of Education, Nicole Harris, said, “Findings from our observations suggested that canine-assisted social and emotional learning initiatives can provide unique advantages. Our team saw that by interacting with the therapy dogs, the children’s moods improved and their engagement in their lessons increased.”

After the program ended, Harris interviewed eight of the children. The researcher found that each child felt the social skills training program was enjoyable. The children also said the dogs were a meaningful part of the training program.

Love pets as much as we do?

Tinybeans, the app that allows you to upload and share photos and videos of your little ones with anyone you choose and no one you don’t, has teamed up with Hill's Pet Nutrition to allow users to add a pet! You can create a profile for your four-legged friend, share their photos and videos, receive milestone markers for them and see recommended articles based on your pet’s age and stage. 

Up for a challenge? Create a pet profile today, and see if you can add a new memory each day this month. Your furball will love the added attention, and you'll love the fun photos you can look back on!

––Erica Loop

 

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New research from the Oregon State University revealed that dogs may synchronize their behavior with the children they live with. The study, which was published in the journal Animal Cognition, sheds light on how a canine companion may bond with their human family.

Researchers looked at interactions between 30 children from the ages of eight and 17 and their family dogs. The researchers instructed each child how to walk their dog through an empty room with color-coded tape lines on the floor.

photo: Helena Lopes via Pexels

Each child-dog pair’s walk was videotaped and analyzed for the degree of active synchrony (the amount of time each pair moved or was stationary together), proximity, and orientation/same direction of movement. The researchers found a higher level of active synchrony than they had expected—but less than what is typically found in dog-adult interactions.

Even though this research shows dogs don’t synchronize their behavior to match children to the same extent they do with their adult pet parents, the study’s results were still significant. Oregon State animal behaviorist Monique Udell, the lead author of the study said, “The great news is that this study suggests dogs are paying a lot of attention to the kids that they live with.”

Udell continued, “They are responsive to them and, in many cases, behaving in synchrony with them, indicators of positive affiliation and a foundation for building strong bonds.” The researcher added, “Sometimes we don’t give children and dogs enough credit. Our research suggests that with some guidance we can provide important and positive learning experiences for our kids and our dogs starting at a much earlier age, something that can make a world of difference to the lives of both.”

—Erica Loop

 

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We have a SUPER announcement. Melissa Benoist and Husband Chris Wood recently welcomed their first child. The little boy joined their family a few weeks ago.

 

 

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Huxley Robert Wood got here a few weeks ago ♥️ and this little boy is everything

A post shared by Melissa Benoist (@melissabenoist) on


“Huxley Robert Wood got here a few weeks ago,” Benoist captioned an Instagram post of her infant son’s hand. “And this little boy is everything.”

The couple announced in March that they were expecting. “A non-canine child is coming to our family very soon,” Benoist captioned her Instagram reveal. “@christophrwood has always been an old dad by nature but now he’s going to be a real one!”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Carla VanWagoner via Shutterstock

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The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Dogs for Joy Program  has granted 15 full-time pediatric service dogs to over a dozen children’s hospitals across the country. These dogs, known as in-residence dogs, are full-time employees of the hospital who come to work every day like their human counterparts and serve as a critical part of a child’s treatment team. Three pediatric hospitals will receive their service dogs this month.  

These highly specialized dogs help ease anxiety and reduce stress for young patients and their families. Each of these amazing dogs are trained to do incredible tasks, like keep kids calm during medical procedures, teach kids how to take a pill, or model how to put on a hospital gown. 

Dogs for Joy

Bob is a two-year-old Golden Doodle joining the ranks at the Floating Hospital for Children, the full-service pediatric hospital of Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Bob is from Canine Assistants. His favorite toys are the new Dunkin’ + BARK Munchkins donut hole treats dog toy and his stuffed bumble bee toy. His favorite activities are playing catch and receiving belly rubs. Bob’s best quality is that he brings joy to every person he meets, just by walking into a room. 

Dogs for Joy

Litta, short for Melitta, is the newest service dog to join The Children’s Hospital at OU Medicine’s staff in Oklahoma City. She is a two-year-old Chocolate Labrador Retriever from Canine Assistants. Litta, who also goes by Litta Love or Litta Lu, loves to cuddle with patients, family members, and staff. Her favorite toy is a pink stuffed dinosaur, and her best quality is being brave. 

Dogs for Joy

Dilly has joined the staff of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD). He is a two-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever who loves snuggling. His favorite toys are his stuffed puppy and treat puzzle. He is a goofball who loves to munch on the hospital ice chips. Dilly’s best quality is his patience. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Dunkin’

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Zoinks! Learn the backstory of your favorite canine detective and how Mystery Inc. came to be. SCOOB! arrives on 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Jul. 21. 

SCOOB! DVD

SCOOB! reveals the never-before-told story of Scooby’s origins. It shows how one of history’s most famous friendships began when an adorable, homeless puppy met a lonesome young boy named Shaggy, and how the two of them joined forces with aspiring young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to become the celebrated Mystery Inc.  Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face the biggest and most challenging mystery of their careers: a plot that will unleash the legendary ghost dog Cerberus upon the world.  As they race to stop this “dogpocalypse,” they discover that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.

SCOOB! features an all-star ensemble cast led by Will Forte, two-time Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Kiersey Clemons, Ken Jeong, Tracy Morgan, Simon Cowell, and Frank Welker.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of SCOOB! will feature HDR10+TM, HDR technology that optimizes brightness levels and contrast for each scene, making bright areas brighter and dark areas darker to deliver a lifelike viewing experience. The 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray and DVD versions of SCOOB! will all include a Digital copy of the film.

The SCOOB! 4K UHD Combo Pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

  • Bloopers
  • Deleted Scenes
  • How To Draw Scooby Doo
  • New Friends, Newer Villains
  • Puppies!!

The SCOOB! DVD contains the special feature, How To Draw Scooby Doo.

4K UHD Combo Pack  retails for $44.95, Blu-ray  for $35.99 and DVD for $28.98.

SCOOB! will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SCOOB! is also currently available for purchase from digital retailers.

 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

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What if we told you Michelle Obama was coming over to read a story to your kids? Every week. Well, she is…thanks to the Read Together, Be Together initiative. Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, and PBS KIDS.

On Mon., May 18, former President Barack Obama, will join Mrs. Obama to read The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach.Then, on Mon., May 25, Sunny and Bo, the Obama family’s canine companions, will be on hand when Mrs. Obama reads Can I Be Your Dog?, written and illustrated by Troy Cummings.

Read Together, Be Together is a nationwide movement that celebrates the importance and power of the shared reading experience between a child and their adult caregiver. Reading aloud every day is one of the most effective ways to foster early literacy and is important for building language skills. First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, in support of this initiative will launch a “Read-Along” effort in collaboration with Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, and PBS KIDS  on Facebook and YouTube.

 

Obama says, “As a little kid, I loved to read aloud. And when I became a parent, I found such joy in sharing the magic of storytelling with my own children—and then later, as First Lady, with kids everywhere. At this time when so many families are under so much stress, I’m excited to give kids a chance to practice their reading and hear some wonderful stories (and to give parents and caretakers a much-needed break).”

Mondays with Michelle Obama (#PBSKIDSRead, #ReadTogetherBeTogether) will be livestreamed simultaneously on PBS KIDS’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, and on Penguin Random House’s Facebook page, and will remain available for viewing on demand on all of those platforms immediately thereafter. 

The eight books Obama will read are:

Apr. 20, 12 p.m. ET     

The Gruffalo 

Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler

 

Apr. 27, 12 p.m. ET:      

There’s a Dragon in Your Book

Written by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Greg Abbott

 

May 4, 12 p.m. ET

Miss Maple’s Seeds

Story and pictures by Eliza Wheeler

                         

May 11, 12 p.m. ET 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

By Eric Carle

 

May 18, 12 p.m. ET   

Giraffe Problems

By Jory John; illustrated by Lane Smith

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich *with a special surprise guest*

Written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach

 

May 25, 12 p.m. ET:   

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss

Can I Be Your Dog? *with a special surprise guest*

Written and illustrated by Troy Cummings

 

A suite of activities, tips and resources for each of the books that Obama will read are available at www.readtogetherbetogether.com, and companion literacy resources are available on pbskidsforparents.org.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo/video courtesy of PBS KIDS & Penguin Random House

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