In 2016, iconic Australian television program Play School celebrates 50 years on air as the nation’s most respected, trusted and longest-running children’s series. Since its initial broadcast in July, 1966, Play School has been entertaining Australian preschoolers, providing them with new experiences and learning opportunities, encouraging them to wonder, to think, to feel and to imagine. Throughout the birthday month of July, the ABC will present a variety of special content across ABC, ABC KIDS and ABC iview to celebrate the occasion with three generations of Australians who have grown up with Play School as an essential part of their childhood. #PlaySchool50
Play School celebrity covers schedule - week 1
ABC KIDS (ABC2)
4 July: 8am Benita Collings & Don Spencer, Teddy Bears Picnic; 5pm Missy Higgins, Three Little Fishies
5 July: 8am Carrie Bickmore, Family Forest; 5pm Guy Sebastian, Singing in the Rain
6 July: 8am Dan Sultan, The Wheels on the Bus; 5pm Bernard Fanning, Morning Town Ride
7 July: 8am Delta Goodrem, Twinkle Twinkle & Moon Moon; 5pm Emma Wiggle, There’s a Bear in There
8 July: 8am John Hamblin, I’m a Little Teapot; 5pm Kurt Feanley & Rachael Coopes, Going on a Bear Hunt
9 July: 8am Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales, Singing in the Kitchen; 5pm Kate Cebrano & daughter Gypsy, I like Peace, I like Quiet
ABC iview
4 July: Five episodes available: Benita Collings & Don Spencer, Teddy Bears Picnic; Costa Georgiadis, Worm at the Bottom of my Garden & Wiggerly Woo; Lee Lin Chin & Takaya Honda, The Emperor’s New Clothes; Missy Higgins, Three Little Fishies; and Emma Wiggle, There’s A Bear in There
From 5 July: Episodes airing on ABC KIDS will be available following its broadcast on ABC iview
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Play School celebrity covers schedule - week 2
ABC KIDS (ABC 2)
10 July: 8am Costa Georgiadis, Worm at the Bottom of my Garden & Wiggerly Woo; 5pm Caitlin Cooper, Ellie Carpenter and Michelle Heyman from the Matildas, If You’re Happy and You Know It
11 July: 8am Dami Im, Somewhere over the Rainbow; 5pm Adam Goodes, Counting Aussie Animals
12 July: 8am You Am I, One Potato, Two Potato; 5pm Katie Noonan, I Can Sing a Rainbow
13 July: 8am Tim Minchin, The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek; 5pm Benita Collings & Don Spencer, Little Peter Rabbit
14 July: 8am Magda Szubanksi, Old Mother Hubbard; 5pm Tim Omaji, Rhythm
15 July: 8am Molly Meldrum & Charlie Pickering, Nursery Rhyme News, 5pm Josh Thomas Ning Nang Nong
16 July: 8am Lee Lin Chin & Takaya Honda, The Emperor’s New Clothes, 5pm Architecture in Helsinki, Big Bass Drum
All episodes available on iView after broadcast
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New toy bounces into Play School in time for 50th celebrations
A new friend is set to bounce into ABC KIDS’ Play School just in time to celebrate the program’s 50th birthday. Joey the joey, designed by award winning children’s book illustrator Bruce Whatley (Diary of a Wombat, Josephine Wants to Dance, The Ugliest Dog in the World), will make her debut on the much anticipated birthday episode, Come To The Party, airing on ABC KIDS and ABC iview at 9.30am on 18 July.
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Play School celebrity covers schedule - week 3
ABC KIDS (ABC 2)
17 July: 8am Jeremy Fernandez, 5 Cheeky Monkeys; 5pm Kate Miller-Heidke, The Owl and the Pussycat
18 July: 8am Umbilical Brothers, Fairy Tale mash up; 5pm John Hamblin, Old MacDonald
19 July: 8am Hamish and Andy, There’s a Hole in my Bucket
All episodes available on iView after broadcast
Repeats start 5pm on 19 July and continues at 8am and 5pm every day until the end of July.
It has to be at least the 3rd time that Play School has changed timeslots over the years. The traditional afternoon airing was again bumped from 3.30pm to 3pm around…2007-ish I think?
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You’re not gonna believe who was on Play School!!
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ABC must be re-running some of the 50th Anniversary episodes, The Feed did a story on Lee Lin Chin’s experience filming the episode.
My demographic is ironic hipsters and Saudi oil barons who want to make me their bride. Preschoolers don’t know me.
Play School - Acknowledgement of Country
Naidoc Activity
Monday 8 July at 9:00am
Join presenters Luke Carroll, Miranda Tapsell and Hunter Page-Lochard to give an Acknowledgement of Country in this special episode of Play School celebrating Australia’s First People. Find out about the presenters’ own country as they create a map of Australia and share how to say hello in their language.
Miranda goes on an adventure as she and a new friend show us how to care for country by helping the animals in the Play School bush. In the story, it’s the animals turn to help out by showing a young boy how to build a cosy home. Hunter is joined by didgeridoo player, Matthew Doyle, as he shows us the dance of his totem, the Wedge Tail Eagle. Then come to the party with all the Play School mob as they gather to celebrate giving the Acknowledgement of Country and their friendship.
The Play School projector shows us children giving their own Acknowledgement of Country at preschool. Through the Windows, meet some children, as they enjoy arts and crafts, play games and dance at a festival to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture.
Presenter Hunter Page-Lochard also wrote this special episode of Play School.
PLAY SCHOOL 2019
There’s a bear in there and some new friends too!
Iconic Australian television program Play School , now more than 50 years young and still going strong, is branching out in 2019 with a whole lot of new stories, new faces, new creations and a very special friend, new toy Kiya.
Kiya will make her debut on Play School during NAIDOC Week in the special episode, Acknowledgement of Country celebrating our Indigenous language and culture and furthering the commitment to embed Indigenous perspectives and viewpoints in ABC Children’s content. In this special episode, airing 8 July from 9.00am on ABC KIDS, presenters Miranda Tapsell, Luke Carroll and Hunter Page-Lochard will find out where Kiya is from and learn to say hello in her language.
Kiya is not the only new addition to Play School this year! Viewers will also be able to enjoy the brand new series, Play School Art Time , see new faces on Celebrity Covers and cover new ground in a series of Play School specials.
Libbie Doherty, Head of Children’s Production said;
“This year, we’re extending the Play School brand by producing unique digital content to amplify the Play School philosophy. We’ve identified key areas of focus and have collaborated with specialists to create a series of one off Play School specials.
The first of these specials is Acknowledgement of Country launching in NAIDOC week. Get Ready For Bed will resonate with everyone struggling to get their little person to sleep and the very special, Beginnings and Endings , has been crafted to help families explain the cycle of life and the concept of death in an age appropriate way.”
Introducing an Aboriginal female toy to Play School reinforces the ABC’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous culture. Kiya was created in collaboration between Play School and Western Australian company Awe & Wonder, with assistance from the ABC’s Indigenous unit. Dr Red Ruby Scarlet and Aboriginal Early Childhood consultant Jessica Staines also assisted and were advisers and script outliners for the Acknowledgement of Country episode. Kiya is from Noongar country, in the southern corner of Western Australia where the word for “hello” is “kiya”!
Kiya’s clothing is made with fabric designed by artist Kiya Watt, who had this to say about her design;
“The ocean has strong connection to Menang Noongars. The symbols and dots throughout the middle represent the strong spirit and movements of the ocean. The dark blue lines outlined with white dots show the waterholes (ngamar) where we would fish from to provide food for our families. The ocean, like boodjah (land), is our mother and we must honour and protect, and only fish enough to provide for our family.”
Acknowledgement Of Country
8 July on ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
Join presenters Luke Carroll, Miranda Tapsell and Hunter Page-Lochard to give an Acknowledgment of Country in this special episode celebrating Australia’s First People. Find out about the presenters’ own country as they create a map of Australia and share how to say hello in their language. Hunter Page-Lochard wrote this special episode.
Play School Art Time
July on ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
Play School Art Time is an action-packed new series that celebrates creativity, curiosity and all things arty! Set in a magical art studio, the adventurous little Art Crew join presenters Zindzi Okenyo and Matt Backer to create, explore and experience the wonders of art. From watercolour paintings to robot sculptures and everything in between! See their creations come to life in the Art Time Gallery at the end of each episode.
Beginnings and Endings
August on ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
In this very special episode, Play School is celebrating new life, and also reflecting on the love we have for those who are no longer with us and have died. It’s time to play, laugh, sing and have fun, and there are also times to be sad and treasure our memories of people and pets we miss. Emma Palmer introduces us to a friend’s newborn baby (and has some exciting news herself!) and Alex Papps shares how he and his family remember his grandmother. Through stories and play, we explore ways to help children through what can be challenging times. It’s time to talk about the beginnings and endings of life on Play School .
Get Ready For Bed
October on ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
It’s time to put on your PJs and wind down with this special episode of Play School where viewers follow the routine of the Play School toys as they finish their day of play and get ready for bed.
Play School Celebrity Covers
Coming Soon to ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
This series of mini episodes features a much-loved line-up of some of Australian musicians and popular personalities who turn their hand at being a Play School presenter, performing popular songs and nursery rhymes. Featuring in the Play School Celebrity Covers are: Baker Boy, Megan Washington, The Cat Empire, Clare Bowditch, Alex the Astronaut, Sylvia Colloco and Amber Lawrence.
Last Monday, The Australian’s media section had a feature article on Jessica Rowe taking part on The Real Dirty Dancing. Jess also mentioned her dream was to appear on Play School and she already had two unsuccessful auditions. I read somewhere before many actors tried their luck to audition for a presenting spot on Play School and only a couple of dozen succeeded.
And she’s not an actor. 
A Very Play School Christmas
Monday 16 December at 5:05pm
It’s Christmas time on Play School a time for family, friends, food and fun!
Join Emma and Matt as they head to ‘Kaeng’s Holiday Park’, where Kaeng has hidden Lots of fun Christmas surprises to be found.
Get ready to celebrate and sing all your favourite Christmas songs and decorate the Christmas tree in this very special concert.
National Simultaneous Story Time with Denise Scott
Wednesday 27 May at 11.00am
Play School takes part in the National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously around the country.
Now in its 20th successful year, the event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6. Join Denise Scott as she reads from the Play School Story Time couch.
Play School Show Time
10.10 am Weekdays on ABC KIDS and ABC KIDS iview
Play School Show Time invites Australia 's most iconic performers and entertainers to perform
special renditions of a song, story, skit or nursery rhyme!
BAKER BOY - “Hickory Dickory Dock”
What’s the time? It’s time for Baker Boy’s ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ rap!
THE CAT EMPIRE- ''The Ants Go Marching"
The Cat Empire go marching one by one with their rendition of ‘The Ants Go Marching’.
MEGAN WASHINGTON - “Der Glumph”
Megan Washington takes to the piano for a rendition of a Play School classic like you’ve never
heard it before.
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA- “Brahms’ Lullaby”
Join the Australian Chamber Orchestra for their stunning rendition of ‘Brahms’ Lullaby’.
SILVIA COLLOCA- “Sing A Song Of Sixpence”
Silvia Colloca’s skills in the kitchen and beautiful operatic voice combine for the perfect musical
take.
AMBER LAWRENCE- “Five Little Ducks”
Get quackin’ with country star, Amber Lawrence as she sings ‘Five Little Ducks’!
ALEX THE ASTRONAUT - “Chicken Talk”
Alex the Astronaut and Henny Penny talk a lot! In between chats Alex delivers a guitar-driven
rendition of ‘Chicken Talk’.
CLARE BOWDITCH - “Hush, Little Baby”
Settle in with the soothing sound of Clare Bowditch and her gorgeous version of ‘Hush, Little
Baby’.
Play School - EVERYDAY HELPERS
Monday 22 February at 9:00am
From the Fire and Rescue Services to paramedics and the SES, our ‘Everyday Helpers’ play a vital role in ensuring community safety and care.
In this empowering new series, Play School teams up with the Australian Red Cross and The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR). With the help of some very special guests from the emergency services, we share early childhood safety messages relevant during times of natural disaster.
Through imaginary play, stories and song, Play School explores ways children can maintain a sense of agency, even during very challenging times.
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Play School - Nursery Rhyme News Time
From Monday 3 May at 4:45pm
Ground-breaking investigative news program, Nursery Rhyme News Time is back! No matter how confused our new reporters are, they always ask the big questions;
- What makes that little star twinkle?
- Why go ‘round the mulberry bush?
- And why is a cake marked with ‘B’ required so urgently?
Along with the help of our Nursery Rhyme Experts, our news reporters Teo, Emma, Kaeng & Abi head to the scene of the rhyme for the full story!
The show gets its own cover on Stellar magazine this Sunday.
Play School: A Very Silly Special
Sunday 18 July 9.00am
To celebrate the 55th year of entertaining children and their families, Play School presents a 45-minute celebration of silliness and laughter with A VERY SILLY SPECIAL.
Join Michelle, Leah, Matt, Alex and Emma and a 4-piece live band as they entertain with your favourite Play School songs and the silliest shenanigans. Highlights include interactive screen graphics and Dancing Pants like you have never seen them before.
Children around the country will be featured dancing to brand new silly dancing song “Do The Silly” from Zindzi and for the first time in decades a new animated version of a Play School favourite “The Ning Nang Nong”.
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Assuming it will be on ABC Kids and not the ABC? So this 55th year of children’s television special of Play School will go against Insiders?