Monday, July 20, 2020

Sprout FAQ

These used to be the FAQ from the Sprout website thanks to an archive from mid 2007.

General Questions

What is PBS KIDS Sprout?

PBS KIDS Sprout is the only 24-hour channel devoted to kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers. We’re available on TV, on demand and online. At Sprout, we’re devoted to creating opportunities for preschoolers and their families to share, play and grow together.

How can I get PBS KIDS Sprout in my home?

PBS KIDS Sprout is currently available on both digital cable and satellite television in many areas across the country and our reach continues to grow. Enter your zip code into the box at the bottom of this page to see if Sprout is available in your area. If Sprout is currently not available in your area, we encourage you to contact your local cable or satellite provider for more information. Parents can also contact us at 1-866-9-SPROUT or info@SproutOnline.com.

What types of shows can I find on PBS KIDS Sprout?

Sprout is uniquely designed to follow a preschooler’s day from breakfast to bedtime. Our programming lineup features safe, fun and interactive shows that parents trust and preschool children love. Please click here to view our complete TV schedule.

What types of shows can I find on Sprout On Demand?

Sprout On Demand allows preschoolers and their parents and caregivers to choose the programming they want, when they want it. The Sprout On Demand library is refreshed on a monthly basis. It contains a wide variety of our preschool programming. Please click here to view a listing of our video on demand library.

How often is your video on demand programming updated?

The Sprout On Demand library is refreshed on a monthly basis. It contains a wide variety of our preschool programming. Please click here to view a listing of our video on demand library.

Do you offer any Spanish-language programming?

Yes, Sprout en EspaƱol is included as part of our video on demand library. Our Spanish-language programming includes episodes of Barney & Friends, Bob el Constructor, Angelina Ballerina, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Los Osos Berenstain and Plaza Sesamo, the Spanish-language version of Sesame Street.

How can I contact PBS KIDS Sprout?

Parents can contact us by mail, phone or email at:
PBS KIDS Sprout
PO Box 9303
Bridgeport, NJ 08014
1-877-6-SPROUT
info@SproutOnline.com

How can I send a craft to Nina and “The Good Night Show?”

To share your crafts with Nina, Star, Lucy and Hush, please click here to submit a photo of your preschooler and his or her craft.

I am looking for instructions for a specific craft from “The Good Night Show.”

Please click here to visit our Good Night Show microsite.

Is there any Sprout merchandise that I can buy?

At this time we do not offer any Sprout merchandise for sale.

Does PBS KIDS Sprout include advertising?

Yes, PBS KIDS Sprout is advertiser supported. However, advertisements will never interrupt a program, and we only feature messages targeted to parents and caregivers, not the child viewer. If you are an advertiser interested in advertising on Sprout, please contact Matthew Igoe at 212-852-5146 or migoe@comcastnets.com.

How is PBS KIDS associated with PBS KIDS Sprout?

PBS KIDS, a trusted distributor of award-winning children’s programming, is a proud partner of PBS KIDS Sprout.

Account Registration and Management Questions

What are the benefits of registering?

Membership is completely free. Registration at SproutOnline.com is for parents and legal guardians, it is not for children. SproutOnline.com members can participate in several unique features of our website, including:
  • My Refrigerator — You know how the front of your kitchen refrigerator turns into your family scrapbook? Well, My Refrigerator is your personalized webpage that is based on the same idea. It’s password-protected so you can upload your Sproutlet's pictures and save artwork, send spam-free Sprout Mail, link to your Sproutlet's favorite games, and more.
  • Sprout Mail — Every family that joins SproutOnline.com gets their own Sprout Mail account. Sprout Mail is simple for you to use with your child. Messages can only be sent to people who you add to your family’s Contact List, so you can’t accidentally send a Sprout Mail message to someone who’s not on your list. Plus, you can only receive messages from people who you’ve already contacted, so you won’t get any messages from strangers (including spammers). 
  • Parents Place — This special section is just for parents. In it, you’ll find articles and accompanying discussions on subjects that are of interest to parents of small children – everything from ideas for “together time” to advice on developing good eating habits. Each topic begins with an expert opinion from a Sprout partner, such as KidsHealth or Sesame Workshop, and then really takes off when parents like you contribute your own thoughts and perspectives.

Can my child register at SproutOnline.com?

Registration at SproutOnline.com is not for children. By registering, you agree that you are an adult that is at least eighteen years old. Registration gives you the opportunity to access SproutOnline.com parent-directed features, including uploading photographs, creating Sprout Mail contact lists, and participating in Parent’s Place blogs. Such features involve sending us information that we only intend to receive from adults. Please see ourterms of use for more information.

Why do you want to know the names and ages of my children as part of my account?

In the future, Sprout will be sending “Happy Birthday” wishes to children via their parent’s Sprout Mail account and wishing them Happy Birthday on The Birthday Show. If you would like your children to participate, we need to know their first names (or nicknames) and dates or birth. However, that information is strictly optional, and you do not have to provide it in order to participate in all other membership activities, such as My Refrigerator and Sprout Mail.

Why won’t SproutOnline.com let me register?

Registration at SproutOnline.com is not for children. If you are an adult that is at least eighteen years old and you entered your child’s birth date as the first step of the registration process, your computer received a temporary cookie identifying you as a child. This was done to help ensure that young children do not attempt to register on SproutOnline.com as adults. To continue with the registration process, please close your Internet browser and then re-open it. This will clear the temporary cookie and allow you to proceed with your registration as an adult. If this procedure does not work, search your computer’s Internet cookie file to identify and delete any cookies ending in “@sproutonline.com.” 

I can’t remember my user name and/or password.

Please click the “Log In” button at the very top of this page. On the page that appears, you will find links labeled “Forgot user name” and “Forgot password.” Click on the appropriate link and follow the instructions on the form that appears to have your user name or password sent to your email account.

How do I change my password?

To change your password, log in to SproutOnline.com and click the “My Refrigerator” link at the top of any page then click “Manage My Account.” Within the account management section, click the “My Profile” tab.

How do I cancel my account?

We’re sorry to hear you’re leaving! To cancel your account, please send an email to info@SproutOnline.com. Please type “cancel my account” in the subject line. In the body of the email, include your user name, first and last name, and the email address you used when you registered for your SproutOnline.com account. We will delete your information from our system.

Parents Place

What is Parents Place?

Parents Place is a special section on SproutOnline.com that’s just for parents. In it, you’ll find articles and accompanying discussions on subjects that are of interest to parents of small children – everything from ideas for “together time” to advice on developing good eating habits. Each topic begins with an expert opinion from a Sprout partner, such as KidsHealth or Sesame Workshop, but then really takes off when parents like you contribute your own thoughts and perspective. We hope you’ll take part in the discussions. (You must be a registered user to post a comment in Parents Place, but everyone is welcome to read the articles.)

What do I do if I see an offensive or inappropriate posting in Parents Place?

Below each posting, you’ll see a link labeled “Flag as Inappropriate.” Click that link to send a message to Sprout about the posting. We appreciate your feedback. We strive to provide a positive and fun experience for families. 

Sharing Pictures, Recipes, Games and More

What are the Sharing Galleries?

The Sharing Galleries are a public forum for you to share pictures of the good times you’ve been having with your family, and a great way to get ideas from other parents! Registered users can post images to the Sharing Galleries, and everyone can view them. To maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, all images may be subject to review and approval by Sprout prior to being displayed in the Sharing Galleries.

What can I share?

Registered users at SproutOnline.com can share pictures of birthday cards, recipes, crafts and more. We accept digital photos or scans of artwork. We especially love photos of your Sproutlet making crafts and recipes that you find here on SproutOnline.com!

How do I create a picture to share?

Pictures taken with a digital camera will be perfect to upload. Just make sure the file size doesn’t exceed 1MB. You can check the file size by right-clicking on the file name and checking Properties. If the file size is too big, use a program like Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Office Picture Manager to reduce the image size and resave it.
If you don’t have a digital camera, you can take pictures with a regular camera and when you take them in to be developed, ask to receive a CD of your pictures. The files on the CD can then be uploaded to SproutOnline.com.

Are there any restrictions?

Please make sure your pictures don’t include images of non-Sprout copyrighted material or material that other users might find offensive. We urge you to use common sense when uploading pictures of your children. For example, don’t include any images that might help someone identify where you and your children live. For more detasils. please review our terms of use.

Do I have to be a registered user to share a picture?

Yes, but registration for SproutOnline.com is free. Just click the “Login” link at the top of any page and follow the instructions.

Where do I upload a picture?

To upload a picture, log in to SproutOnline.com and go to your My Refrigerator page. Click the Upload link in the Gallery area. Confirm your password, and you’re ready to go!

Is there an upload size limit?

Yes, pictures may not exceed 1MB. You can check the file size by right-clicking on the file name and checking Properties. If the file size is too big, use a program like Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Office Picture Manager to reduce the image size and resave it.

How do I remove a picture that I’ve uploaded?

Log in to SproutOnline.com and click the “My Refrigerator” link at the top of any page then click “Manage My Account.” Within the account management section, click the “Upload” tab. Check the box next to the picture you would like to remove, then click “Delete.”

Are there picture editing tools available on the site?

We do not offer picture editing tools at this time.

Where do I see my pictures after I upload them?

When you upload a picture to SproutOnline.com, you can see it immediately on your My Refrigerator page. If you selected “Only on My Refrigerator page” during the upload, the picture will only be available on your password-protected My Refrigerator page. If you selected “The Sprout Sharing Galleries,” then your picture may be viewable to all SproutOnline.com visitors in the public Sharing Galleries and may even be seen on Sprout TV! To maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, all pictures may be subject to review and approval by Sprout prior to being displayed in the Sharing Galleries. 

What’s the difference between “The Sprout Sharing Galleries” and “Only on My Refrigerator page”?

If you selected “Only on My Refrigerator page” during upload, then your picture will only be available on your password-protected My Refrigerator page. If you selected “The Sprout Sharing Galleries,” then your picture will go into a queue for approval. Once approved, your picture may be viewable to all SproutOnline.com visitors in the public Sharing Galleries and may even be seen on Sprout TV! To maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, all pictures may be subject to review and approval by Sprout prior to being displayed in the Sharing Galleries.

How do I share a picture I’ve uploaded?

There are two ways to share pictures. Registered users can share a photo on your My Refrigerator page can be shared via Sprout Mail. Click on the picture to enlarge it, then click the “Share It” button.
Pictures in the Sharing Galleries can also be shared via Sprout Mail. Simply click on the picture to enlarge it, then click the “Share It” link below the picture and follow the instructions on the form that appears.

What do I do if I see an offensive or inappropriate picture in the Sharing Galleries?

To maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, all pictures may be subject to review and approval by Sprout prior to being displayed in the Sharing Galleries. However, we understand that each family has its own standards for what is offensive or inappropriate. If you see something in the Sharing Galleries that you think should not be there, please contact us by sending an email to info@SproutOnline.com.

My Refrigerator

What is My Refrigerator?

You know how the front of the refrigerator at home turns into your family scrapbook? Well, My Refrigerator is your personal web page that is the same idea. It’s a password-protected page that you can use to upload pictures and save your child's artwork, send spam-free Sprout Mail, link to your Sproutlet's favorite games, and more.

How do I add a Favorite?

Your child’s favorite games, videos, crafts, recipes and activities can be included on your My Refrigerator page for easy access. You add them by clicking on the “Add to Favorites” link on the detail page for that game, video or other item. Look for the heart-shaped icon.

Sprout Mail

What is Sprout Mail?

When you join SproutOnline.com, you get your own Sprout Mail account. Sprout Mail is simple for you to use with your child. Messages can only be sent to people who you add to your Contact List, so you can’t accidentally send someone a Sprout Mail message who’s not on your list. Plus, you can only receive messages from people who you’ve already contacted, so you won’t get any messages from strangers (including spammers). And to make it extra fun, you can upload a photo of each person on your Contact List so your child can help you choose who to send a message to!

Games, Videos and More

Why won’t SproutOnline.com games play on my computer?

Games on SproutOnline.com require the latest version of Flash to run, which can be downloaded for free here:
Please note that SproutOnline.com games may take several minutes to load for users connecting via a dial-up modem.
If you’re still having difficulties running our games after installing the latest version of Flash, please contact your authorized computer technical support representative for assistance.

Why won’t SproutOnline.com videos play on my computer?

Videos on SproutOnline.com require the latest version of Flash to run, which can be downloaded for free here:
Please note that SproutOnline.com games may take several minutes to load for users connecting via a dial-up modem.
If you’re still having difficulties running our games after installing the latest version of Flash, please contact your authorized computer technical support representative for assistance.

Why isn’t a SproutOnline.com coloring page or other “printable” viewable on my computer.

Some SproutOnline.com printables require Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Celebrating Birthdays on The Sunny Side Up Show

How do I submit a birthday card to Sprout? 

The card must be homemade, for your child (age 7 and under), and feature your family's favorite PBS KIDS Sprout character(s). Click here for a list of PBS KIDS Sprout shows.
Be creative and have fun! Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • Include a fun picture of your child
  • Draw your family's favorite PBS KIDS Sprout character
  • Maybe a family pet wants to wish your child a happy birthday? Everyone can get involved - grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, baby sitters and teachers. The more the merrier! 
  • Please do not put a last name or address on the front or inside of the card.
  • Try to avoid white, orange and pink paper as well as light-colored or very thin markers because they don't show up very well on TV.
  • Please do not send in photos or drawings that feature children’s TV characters not featured on Sprout.
Print and sign the entrant release form*. http://www.sproutonline.com/currentsite/birthdays/Birthday.pdf * Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader Click hereto download it.
Mail the birthday card to the mailing address included on the form. You must include the signed release form with your birthday greeting. No card will be selected without a signed release form!

Where will my birthday card be seen?

Birthdays will be celebrated every weekday morning LIVE on The Sunny Side Up Show from 9am – noon ET and special birthday segments on weekends at 9am and 1pm ET. Also, birthday messages will appear in the scroll across the bottom of the screen throughout the show. We’ll wish a happy birthday to all Sproutlets who send in a card or whose parents have entered their name and birthday during registration for SproutOnline.com.
Your birthday card will also be featured on SproutOnline.com! Check for it by visiting The Sunny Side Up Show section of SproutOnline.com.

How are cards selected to be shown on TV?

Selection is based upon uniqueness and creativity of the birthday greeting, as well as the content and the clarity of the card on camera. Unfortunately, we cannot notify the entrants whose cards have been chosen, nor can we return cards or send tapes of The Sunny Side Up Show or weekend birthday segments.
However, remember that all birthday cards are featured on SproutOnline.com! Check for yours by visiting The Sunny Side Up Show section of SproutOnline.com on your child’s actual birthday, or the Sharing Gallery within two weeks before and after the birthday.

What about the scrolling birthday messages?

Cards that are not shown on The Sunny Side Up Show or special weekend birthday segments are eligible to be listed on the scroll, as long as they are received in time, generally two weeks before the birthday, and with the release form. Also, if you have provided your child’s first name and birth date as part of your SproutOnline.com registered account, your child will automatically be part of the scroll! 

Which birthday cards are uploaded to SproutOnline.com?

All cards that meet the criteria above will be featured on SproutOnline.com. Please note that only the front of your card will be shown. Check for it by visiting The Sunny Side Up Show section of SproutOnline.com.

Can you send me a tape of “The Sunny Side Up Show” or special weekend birthday segments? 

Unfortunately, we are unable to release show tapings. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause you and your family. 

How can I submit a Birthday Wish?


Visit The Sunny Side Up Show section of SproutOnline.com for details.

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