Dora the Explorer was born of the desire for a show that teaches pre-schoolers problem solving skills. Each day the littlest members of the family are faced with obstacles which can be discouraging and it may come from such little things as not being able to reach a light switch or eating their dinner with a fork. The premise of each Dora show is to give them such strategies as stopping to think, asking for assistance and using the knowledge that they have here.
Dora is different from a lot of other shows s it asks the viewers to participate by moving their bodies, answering questions and learn to speak Spanish, since Dora uses this in her everyday speech based on her heritage.
The show is written by people who can relate to the audience, having children of their own in the target age range. This also offers opportunities to test stories out before committing them to episodes.
Dora has also been designed as a role model. She cares about her friends and doesn’t give up. She’s curious and likes to solve problems. And she’s not afraid to explore.
By being bilingual, Dora also introduces the knowledge that there is more than one language within our world. It’s also an important factor in achieving fluency in a second language for children to be introduced before the age of six. Each episode of Dora the Explorer takes approximately a year to complete from start to finish, this being the original approved idea through to the final sound effects.