PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, today announced a new multiplatform initiative, Sprout Smart. Sponsored by Mott's for Tots and in partnership with the experts at KidsHealth.org, Sprout Smart will focus on Healthy Living & Nutrition for 2008. This comprehensive, prosocial initiative is designed to inspire parents to connect and communicate with their preschoolers about important everyday issues such as health, nutrition, safety and social development. Each year, a new topic relating to preschool health and development will be introduced.

"With the multitude of messages that parents are regularly exposed to regarding their child's development, we know that it can be overwhelming to families with preschoolers," said Eileen Diskin, vice president of marketing for PBS KIDS Sprout. "Sprout Smart offers expert guidance in the form of fun and credible tips, tools and resources that are easily accessible to parents and meaningful to preschoolers."


"Since our inception two years ago, Sprout has championed healthy habits for preschoolers," said Sandy Wax, president of PBS KIDS Sprout. "Whether it's whipping up a fun and healthy snack at Sprout Diner or doing bedtime stretches with Nina on The Good Night Show, we encourage healthy habits in all of Sprout's original programming. Sprout Smart really sums up this whole philosophy and brings it to a new level."


Sprout Smart PSAs will begin airing tomorrow on the Sprout linear channel, at SproutSmart.com, and will roll out across a number of cable networks throughout the year. The PSAs will also be made available on Sprout On Demand beginning February 15. Each PSA is designed to address modern day parents' concerns regarding their preschooler's health and development.