by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Sitting kids in front of the television has always been frowned upon, but for some parents it’s the only way to get a second’s peace. I work from home and sometimes I need my kids to watch some TV in order to keep them distracted long enough to get things done. Believe me, I have plenty of mom-guilt about it, but sometimes it’s the only thing that works. Luckily, there is a wide variety of children’s programming to choose from, allowing me to be picky about what my kids watch.
I’ve found that not all kid’s television is created equal. Some strictly entertain while others actually teach kids something while entertaining them. These shows should not be confused with those that try so hard at educating that they forget their target demographic. Over the past five years of being a mom, I’ve conducted exhaustive research on what works and what doesn’t… OK, I’ve just watched a lot of TV. In any case, here are the best and worst networks for children’s programming.
The Disney Channel has a wide variety of shows for kids of all ages. The preschool set can enjoy Playhouse Disney from 6:00 am until around noon where shows like Little Einsteins and JoJo’s Circus have found the perfect balance between education and captivation. While a couple of the programs fail to hold my children’s attention, namely Koala Brothers and Higglytown Heroes, the rest do a fine job of keeping the kids entertained. As the day wears on, shows like Lilo and Stitch and The Proud Family steer away from the learning angle and focus on fun, giving older kids something to watch if they happen to be home from school. The evening hours bring sitcoms like The Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Hannah Montana, where Hollywood’s hottest up-and-coming child actors are being molded into the next Lindsay Lohan, minus all the drunk driving (we hope). The prime time hours usually consist of original movies that are becoming more and more entertaining, even to grown ups. Best of all, the Disney Channel has no commercials for products like sugary cereals or the latest “it” toy, giving moms and dads who don’t want their kids begging for Triple Frosted Chocolate Sugar Oats with Marshmallows some serious peace of mind. In place of ads, the channel gives kids updates on upcoming Disney projects through the Movie Surfers, a group of kids who interview filmmakers and stars on location and teach viewers about “movie magic” like CGI effects.
Sprout is a wonderful alternative to the Disney Channel, with 24 hours worth of quality preschool-oriented programming. Shows like Caliou and Curious George are on all day long and when the day begins to wind down the Goodnight Show begins, giving little viewers a chance to watch some of their favorite shows interspersed with sleep-inducing activities like yoga poses and lullabies. There are limited commercials on this cable network, but the shows are so fun and educational that I can easily overlook the ads.
With the exception of Dora the Explorer, Backyardigans and Wonder Pets, Nickelodeon has very little to offer in the preschool department. The programming later in the day leaves a lot more to be desired, with sitcoms like Ned’s Declassified and Josh and Drake, which don’t seem to have the charm of Disney’s offerings. I have to applaud Nickelodeon for keeping dinosaurs like Spongebob Squarepants and Rugrats in rotation because they hold up well and still get laughs from me regardless of how many times I’ve seen a particular episode. Still, the volume of commercials bothers me to no end, especially during the early morning hours when shows for little viewers are on the air.
There isn’t much to praise Cartoon Network for. Most of the shows, while entertaining, fail to hold young children’s fleeting attentions and those that do have little redeeming value other than keeping them quiet for 30 minutes. The commercials are just as evasive as Nickelodeon, taking up almost as much airtime as the show itself. The only thing that saved Cartoon Network from being the worst is their late night programming Adult Swim. The shows that air when the little ones are in bed are highly entertaining for parents, bringing much needed laughter to the end of hectic days, and we all know that if mommy’s happy, everyone’s happy.
So moms, don’t feel guilty when you grab the remote. Kids TV programming has come a long way since Popeye’s Pals and Captain Kangaroo.
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