The Puzzle Place

January 15, 1996

The kids prepare for Christmas but are shocked that Jody does not celebrate with them.

January 16, 1996

Julie criticizes what Jody wants to wear to the “grown-up” theme party at Puzzle Place. But when the others kids like Jody’s outfit better than hers, Julie learns that the only reason you need for wearing something is because you like it.

January 17, 1996

Skye and Leon find out that there are many ways to make kites and that just because one way works doesn’t mean another way won’t work just as well. Sizzle attempts playing basketball. Julie and Ben do not appear in this episode.

January 18, 1996

Julie is torn between spending the day with her grandmother or singing in the talent show. Skye and Jody do not appear in this episode.

January 19, 1996

Kiki decides to prune a big tree by herself and becomes exasperated when she discovers that the job is too much for her to do alone. She learns that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. Nuzzle obtains a motorcycle and Sizzle so badly wants to try it herself. Julie, Ben, and Leon do not appear in this episode.

January 22, 1996

When Ben teases Jody that girls can’t learn martial arts, she quickly teaches him a lesson.

January 23, 1996

Leon learns that playing Sherlock Holmes isn’t enough to solve a mystery. He needs Dr. Watson, his teammate Ben. Everyone learns that being part of a team means respecting your teammates and appreciating their unique contributions. Sizzle and Nuzzle steal the fabulous hat in question and destroy it. Julie and Skye do not appear in this episode.

January 24, 1996

Kiki tries to prove to her mother that she’s ready to take care of a pet by taking care of Nuzzle. She soon realizes that she’s not ready for the responsibility. Sizzle so badly wants to climb a curtain in the basement but keeps falling down.

January 25, 1996

Julie tries out a new and different game and realizes how much fun it can be. Nuzzle takes up the Scottish bagpipes and tries to get Sizzle to play too, all the while annoying her by calling her “lassie.” Kiki and Leon do not appear in this episode.

January 26, 1996

When Leon’s uncle tells him he’s the “king of kids,” Leon suddenly gets an ego boost and acts royally around The Puzzle Place, making Skye and Ben his subjects. Eventually, pro-basketball player Cedric Ceballos tells them that there is a difference between being bossy and being a leader. Sizzle suddenly decides to be “queen of cats” and makes Nuzzle do everything for her.

January 29, 1996

Kiki’s cousin Maggie visits from Mexico. Even though she only speaks Spanish, the other kids learn that friendship and communication can develop through gestures and a few simple words. Nuzzle gets trapped in a dollhouse. Leon and Jody do not appear in this episode.

January 30, 1996

Ben and Leon fight over who gets to lay the last piece of train track. They get so angry that they hit each other and their fight ruins the game for everyone, including themselves. Once they realize that fighting is a bad idea, they learn what else they can do when they feel so angry that they want to hit someone. A replay of their fight shows them points where they could have stopped to talk things out.

January 31, 1996

Unbeknownst to Julie, Nuzzle has taken her favorite doll. Julie is understandably upset, so Leon decides to conduct an all-out search. Ben and Skye do not appear in this episode.

February 1, 1996

Leon sees his brother accidentally break his father’s favorite lamp. Leon doesn’t want to be a tattletale, but he doesn’t want to lie either. When he learns that telling the truth is not the same as tattling, he knows just what to do.

February 2, 1996

Julie is upset because a classmate calls her eyes “funny.” Her friends help her see that everyone’s eyes are different and beautiful, and that they are all just right for them. Nuzzle imagines what it would be like to have different kinds of ears.

February 5, 1996

The children think Ben’s Norwegian dancing and traditional costumes are weird. They soon learn that things that are new to them just might be interesting, not weird. Sizzle, likewise, finds Nuzzle chewing on a toy car weird. Skye and Jody do not appear in this episode.

February 6, 1996

When Jody’s pet cricket dies, the friends share how different cultures deal with death. Children learn what to do with all the strong feelings that come up when someone (or something) they love dies. They find answers in the traditional practices of their culture, their families and their friends. Nuzzle is so excited to see his favorite dog groomer that Sizzle couldn’t care less. Ben and Skye do not appear in this episode.

February 7, 1996

The children decide to host a circus. But Leon is too small to fit into a costume. With his friends’ help, he discovers that size shouldn’t matter.

February 8, 1996

Jody and the kids learn that dealing with a difficult situation is easier when you’re able to talk about your feelings, especially with issues like divorce and remarriage. Sizzle and Nuzzle think of ways to organize the basement. Julie and Ben do not appear in this episode.

February 9, 1996

Everyone has a new raincoat except Skye. The kids convince him that he can make his raincoat special by decorating it in his own way.

February 12, 1996

Julie and Kiki want to play with the same thing at the same time. With the help of Skye’s Uncle Victorio, a member of the Tribunal Council, they learn that the best way to solve a conflict is to make a rule that everyone agrees to follow. The kids brainstorm lots of ideas before they finally find a rule that everyone thinks will work. Sizzle and Nuzzle fight over napping spots. Ben and Jody do not appear in this episode.

February 13, 1996

Ben, Skye and Julie cheer up Jody after a boy makes fun of her nontraditional family.

February 14, 1996

Leon wants to be a grownup because he thinks grownups can do whatever they want. When he realizes that there are lots of things grownups have to do that kids don’t have to worry about, he decides he can wait. Sizzle wears a new sweater that makes her sneeze, and Nuzzle thinks he can be a doctor to her. Julie and Skye do not appear in this episode.

February 15, 1996

Julie and Leon are scared of something they’ve never tried: horseback riding. They find out that when you have the courage to try new things you end up being proud of yourself. Ben and Jody do not appear in this episode.

February 16, 1996

When Julie sees that her excitement about playing in the wading pool is actually hurting people (and pets), she understands that it is important to be careful.