Exito Launches ‘Carrusel’ For Kids.

With the debut of Carrusel on Thursday, April 18, 2002. The new section is devoted to education and literacy, with an emphasis on storytelling and interaction between parents and their children. Content will be provided on a regular basis from partners such as the local PBS affiliate WTTW-Ch. 11, the Mexican Fine Arts Center-Museum and the Great Books Foundation.

“Parental involvement plays such a huge role in the success of a child’s later learning,” says Alejandro Escalona, Exito editor. “We saw a desperate need for materials written in Spanish that Latinos could use to become more involved in their children’s education. Carrusel helps bridge that gap.” Carrusel will feature stories, games, legends and activities designed to help parents teach their children how to speak Spanish and to familiarize them with the Latino culture. Content will be divided among three age groups spanning infants to 12-year-olds.

Latinos represent one out of every four Chicagoans; one third of all students enrolled in Chicago public schools are Latino.

Partnerships

Institutions committed to providing content for Carrusel on a regular basis:

WTTW-Ch. 11: The local public television affiliate will supply activities featuring characters from popular programs such as “Sesame Street,” “Dragon Tails,” “Clifford” and others.

Chicago Public Schools: Will contribute content from bilingual and Spanish programs.

Instituto Cervantes: Will create activities designed to make learning Spanish fun for kids.

The Mexican Fine Arts Center-Museum: Will provide arts and crafts activities. The museum is the largest Latino cultural institution in the U.S.

The Mexican Consulate of Chicago, Education Department: Will contribute reading materials developed by the Education Ministry of Mexico.

The Great Books Foundation: Will coordinate readings by well-known Latino authors and help arrange a series of discussions for children and their parents at local community organization.