KCET’s ‘Los Niños en Su Casa’ Wins Parent’s Choice Award.

KCET’s A Place of Our Own, the daily series devoted to the needs of people who care for children, and its Emmy-winning Spanish-language companion Los Niños en Su Casa, have won two national Parents’ Choice Awards: Spring 2006 Recommended Television and Spring 2006 Recommended Website. The awards are given to products that meet and exceed standards set by educators, librarians and kids themselves. The series also won awards from the Say Yes to Children Network and the California Child Development Administrators Association (CCDAA).

“Quality childcare is difficult to find,” states award-winning columnist and author Robin Raskin in her Parents’ Choice review of the websites for A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa. “KCET…deserves kudos for creating www.aplaceofourown.org and the Spanish version www.losninosensucasa.org. Together these sites offer, along with a companion daily television show, a novel approach to remedying the tough problem of educating caregivers. They portray caregivers as professionals on a career path and instill a pride of profession.”

The Say Yes to Children Network, an organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children, recently honored the series with its 2006 Spirit of Community Award. Community outreach is an essential component of both programs, which air on public television throughout California. In 2006, more than 250 workshops are scheduled to complement A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa, featuring activities and seminars on a variety of topics designed to support those who care for children.

At its 64th annual conference, the CCDAA presented the series with the 2006 Media Award, in honor of “media service to benefit California’s children and families.” The CCDAA works to promote quality early childhood programs in California.

Each episode of A Place Of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa features fun, informative segments, plus advice on how to tackle common childcare problems and tips for everyday activities to engage children in learning through play. Segments also include interviews with doctors, teachers and experienced caregivers who provide insight on how to raise smart, healthy and happy children.

Both series are produced in association with 44 Blue Productions Inc. Stephanie Drachkovitch and Mary Mazur are executive producers. Joyce Campbell is executive in charge of production. Shahnti Olcese Brook is the co-executive producer. Debi Gutierrez is host for A Place of Our Own, and Alina Rosario is host for Los Niños en Su Casa.

A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa are produced in association with Sesame Workshop and made possible through generous grants from BP, First 5 California, First 5 LA, Children and Families Commission of Orange County, and the California Community Foundation.