FAQ

Frequent Questions

We're sure you have lots of questions, so we've done our best to answer them here!

  1. Where did Josh Selig get his inspiration for the show?
  2. When is 3rd & Bird! on TV?
  3. Has the programme been tested with children?
  4. How can you help your child benefit from 3rd & Bird!?
  5. What can children learn from watching 3rd & Bird!?
  6. What age range is the show aimed at?
  7. 3rd & Bird! looks different from other pre-school shows, how is this achieved?
  8. Who does all the whistling in the show?
  9. Where can I buy 3rd & Bird! products?

1. Where did Josh Selig get his inspiration for the show?

From Josh Selig:

"I was in a botanical garden looking at birdhouses and it occurred to me that it would be wonderful to create a whole neighbourhood of hand-made wooden birdhouses. This was the first inspiration for our show, “3rd & Bird!”
 
At about the same time, I was thinking about communities and the way that healthy communities function: Neighbours helping neighbours, children learning from their teachers and a safe, familiar place for everyone to work and play.
 
Lastly, I have always been fascinated by bird songs and the way that birds use their music to say everything from “I live here,” to “I love you,” to “Feed me!”
 
All these elements came together to form the concept of “3rd & Bird!”, a show that is all about a colourful and quirky community of birds who learn about life, friendship and responsibility in the branches of their beautiful tree."

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2. When is 3rd & Bird! on TV?

To find out when 3rd & Bird! is on TV visit: www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

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3. Has the programme been tested with children?

Yes. Little Airplane Productions utilizes a unique approach to research testing that has been developed in-house by Director of Research, Dr. Laura G. Brown. Their approach is called “Show & Tell Research.” In “Show” key images (research art) are strung together into a “Picture Show” and shown to a diverse group of preschoolers between the ages of three and five. As the images are being shown, a researcher reads appropriate dialogue from the scripts, covering all main story beats. In “Tell” the preschoolers behaviour while watching the “Picture Show” is recorded and analyzed to determine what parts of the story were appealing and what parts were not. This information, along with the children’s answers regarding appeal and comprehension, is analyzed to find patterns to the children’s responses. A report based on these findings is presented to producers along with recommendations as to how to improve scripts and make the programs.

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4. How can you help your child benefit from 3rd & Bird!?

Watch the program with your child. Children love when you take an interest in their interests! So watch with them and show them their opinions matter to you.

Make connections between the story topic and things in your child’s life. For example, when a character is frustrated and wants to give up, point out a time your child may have felt similarly. Discuss what the character did to persevere – and what your child might do in a similar situation.       

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5. What can children learn from watching 3rd & Bird!?

During the preschool years, children spend more time away from home. Some children go to preschool. Others visit friends or participate in community programs. Regardless of what your child does, all steps away from home are big steps at this age! The more children know about community life and managing new situations, the easier those first steps away from home can be. Each “3rd and Bird!” story is designed to help children adapt to community life. For more information please visit the schools and nurseries section of the site.

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6. What age range is the show aimed at?

 3rd & Bird!  is for preschoolers, widely 2 to 6 years of age.

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7. 3rd & Bird! looks different from other pre-school shows, how is this achieved?

3rd & Bird! looks unlike any other show on television. Photographs are used to create a graphic reality nested within the canopy of the tree. Every background looks like a beautiful picture postcard with the use of vibrant colours and dappled light. Every sky has personality and movement like a beautiful watercolor painting. This technique is called “photo-puppetry animation,” an original style of animation created at Little Airplane, it allows animators to manipulate photographs of real animals to create the show’s stylized look. The ordinary becomes uncanny as viewers see everyday images come to life.

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8. Who does all the whistling in the show?

Michael Barimo, the world whistling champion! Who says of 3rd & Bird! “ The opportunity to work on 3rd & Bird! has clearly been a dream come true, given that it permits me to interpret a cast of thoughtfully developed characters through their individual whistles, and the chance to share this with small children truly brings my whistling adventure full circle. “

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9. Where can I buy 3rd & Bird! products?

Please visit our products section of the website for more details. Products can be purchased direct from links to various online retailers here, or from good high street retailers.

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The Creators

Created by Josh Selig and produced by Little Airplane Productions for CBeebies.

Educational Benefits

Preparing little ones for the world beyond their nest.

About 3rd & Bird

3rd & Bird is a pre-school series about a community of birds that... Find out more here.