As any parent who has sat through an episode of CoComelon with their kid should be able to attest (in between sneaking distracted glances at social media, of course), JJ and his friends attend Melon Patch Academy. They learn through song, make up silly dances, and try to make learning an opportunity for play and adventure.
The heart and soul of Melon Patch Academy is JJ’s teacher, Ms. Appleberry. She makes appearances on the Netflix spin-off CoComelon Lane for preschool-age children, and even got her own live-action show, called CoComelon Classroom, which debuted on YouTube in 2024. Now, she’s teaming up with more teachers to bring the attendees of Melon Patch Academy even more educational adventures.
The new show is called The Melon Patch, and it debuts on September 23, 2025 on YouTube.
What Parents Can Expect from ‘The Melon Patch’
Ms. Appleberry might be the most familiar teacher at Melon Patch Academy, she’s joined by a team of teachers who expand the scope of the school’s lesson plans, including Mr. Doodad the imaginative art teacher, Mr. Acorn the nature and exploration expert, and Ms. Twist the energetic dance and movement instructor.
At 25-minutes, each episode is longer than previous iterations of CoComelon, which may also appeal to viewers with longer attention spans—think preschool to first grade.
Allie Rivera Quiñonez will pay Ms. Appleberry, who leads lessons that combine the signature sound of CoComelon music and song to teach more than just skills. Episodes of the show will cover a wide range of topics, from managing big feelings to STEM concepts like different textures.
Quiñonez tells Parents that early exposure to these ideas “allows [kids’ brains] to utilize both hemispheres and encourages development of creative problem solving through art with Mr. Doodad, motor skills through movement with Ms. Twist, and sensory exploration of the world around her with Mr. Acorn.”
The Melon Patch’ also incorporates puppets to bring in a non-adult character who relates to kids. Jellybean the hamster is one such puppet that makes complex subjects more digestible for young kids.
“In our episode about families, we learn that family members can look very different—even [like] hamsters,” says Quiñonez. “Jellybean also has some teachable moments that I think are really relatable, like not wanting to take a bath, trying new foods or having to be patient for trick-or-treating.”
How the ‘The Melon Patch’ Encourages Active Engagement
Exploration is key in the world of The Melon Patch, according to Quiñonez, who says that The Melon Patch prioritizes “engagement over passive watching.” She hopes that kids aren’t just observing the teachers’ lessons on screen, but actively taking part in the subject the show is covering that day.
For instance, Quiñonez says that the teachers “incorporate a game with everyday items around the house in almost every episode.” Not only does the game get kids up and exploring their environment, it also “encourages recognition of these items like forks and spoons at mealtime, or soap and towels at bathtime.”
There are also opportunities for kids and parents to adopt projects of their own once the screens are off.
“Mr. Doodad creates art out of items like string or tape, and Mr. Acorn explores the textures of our outside world like trees and mud,” says Quiñonez. All of which can be recreated at home.
‘The Melon Patch’ Uses Music as a Teaching Tool
The original CoComelon YouTube show hinges on JJ and company singing educational songs about everyday topics, like bedtime routines, meal time, and the first day of school. And The Melon Patch carries on that tradition of music-based education.
“The way music emotionally regulates adults is no different for children, and in fact a particularly useful tool for their brain development,” says Quiñonez.
She says music is a valuable tool for “enhancing memory, pattern and rhythm recognition,” as well as “language development by introducing new vocabulary [and] encouraging comprehension through connecting words with sounds.”
This is why nursery rhymes and other original songs play such an important role in each episode.
“It may seem as though we are teaching art, science, and movement. However, these are simply the mediums we use to support young children in developing essential skills,” Dr. Natascha Crandall, the educational consultant who worked on The Melon Patch, explains.
Crandall tapped into research, which found that young children learn best through play. So it made sense to create a show “where viewers can engage and play with the characters, rather than passively absorb information.”
Why You Should Watch ‘The Melon Patch’ With Your Kids
The Melon Patch isn’t meant to merely be a “downtime show.” Rather, it incorporates art, dance, and outdoor exploration to help kids develop practical life skills that will serve them well.
“We also intentionally choose activities that parents can easily replicate at home,” says Crandall. “By modeling play with accessible, everyday materials, we encourage parents and caregivers to join in, strengthening both learning and bonding experiences with their children.”
The Melon Patch is shaping up to be a show that will appeal to families who appreciate balance in their kids’ lives—between screens and books, pretend play and structured craft time, and between spending time outdoors and taking much-needed breaks to recharge.
With so much to learn from Ms. Appleberry and her co-teachers, both parents and kids will come away from The Melon Patch with more questions to ask and more games to play together.
Read the original article on Parents
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