After I came to this realization, I decided to take a look and see what shows were out there that I felt were educational and entertaining for my children. So with their help, I've selected three shows, each aimed at a different age group, that I think children might actually get something out of. Beyond ridiculous entertainment, that is. Please note: channels indicated may be different in your region.
The Cat in the Hate Knows a Lot About That
I was browsing Treehouse for most of the day to find a show or two I wouldn't mind having my preschooler watch when I came upon this cute little show. Now, I'm a fan of Dr. Seuss, so I actually gave this show my undivided attention for a little while. I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. The first thing that caught my attention was the animation. It was very like watching the classic Dr. Seuss come to life. The rhymes were in keeping with The Cat in the Hat. And though I'm not a fan of Martin Short, his voice seemed to just fit the show and character. The best thing about this TV show? It actually engaged my 4-year-old.
Artzooka!
My 6-year-old isn't quite so easily entertained. I had to search a little harder for a program he enjoyed and that didn't drive me nuts. I finally found one on CBC. Artzooka! went beyond making crafts. It actually went into art theory and practice and encouraged my son to see the world from a new and artistic perspective. My 6-year-old actually paid attention and learned something, as evidenced by the craft projects that were quickly produced on the dining room table. I enjoyed his efforts and he stopped asking if he could go see the new Batman movie (which he was never going to be allowed to see). Sweet peace for both of us.
Big Time Rush
And what about older children? Those kids we call tweens? Let's face it. They don't want to watch what we want them to watch. And they figured out how to work the remote years ago. These kids want entertainment, not educational programming. So finding something that can be agreed upon by parent and child isn't always easy. Both parties will have to compromise just a little.
But I got lucky with YTV's Big Time Rush. I didn't hate it (and I really hate most children's programming these days). The tweens found it hilarious. It's just a show about a few goofs from Minnesota that run off to Los Angeles. Why do they run off to LA? They apparently want to make it as a boy band. And hilarity ensues. Slapstick stuff, mostly. But I didn't find the show offensive and the tweens loved it. Good enough in my books.
It's not always easy to find television programming that both parent and child can live with. But with a little exploration and some compromise, it is possible to let your children watch some television without turning into TV zombies. Just remember to always watch 2 or 3 episodes with your child so you know exactly what they're being exposed to.
