Interesting and Educational TV Shows for Children

While I was pregnant, one of the many things I did to prepare for the baby was checking out children's television shows. Some really stood out, and I took note, others just seemed too boring to be allowed, and others still were just plain ridiculous. I remember an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba where they had a song about bananas. Kids were walking around with them up to their ears like they were on the phone, they were putting them on their head, and waving them around the air like a sword. The only thing they weren’t doing was eating them. Sorry, but when I give my son a banana I don’t want him using it as a drumstick or a play phone. I want him to eat it.  Other shows I found were really remarkable, such as the PBS shows Super Why! and The Cat In the Hat and Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So instead of being like me and trying to weed out all the shows you don’t want your children watching, check out these ones first.

 I discovered this show a few months ago when watching PBS with my son. He's 8 months old and generally doesn't have a very long attention span, but he will watch this 30 minute show intently and get very upset if someone disturbs him. The plot is basically about a boy, Whyatt (Why), who lives in Storybook Village with his friends who include Little Red Riding Hood, Little Boy Blue, The Three Little Pigs and others. Whenever Whyatt and his friends encounter an everyday problem they go to their clubhouse and look in a book to solve it. They turn into super heros and solve problems in the book and collect Super Letters so they can ultimately find the Super Story Answer that will help them solve their problem. This is a really great show to get your child interested in books and reading at an early age. Kids learn the alphabet through Alpha Pig and they learn spelling through Princess Presto and have fun at the same time. It also encourages a healthy lifestyle. This show is on PBS as well as Sprout.

While this show doesn't focus on the alphabet and reading like Super Why! it is still very educational. I even find myself learning things from it. Nick and Sally are the main characters and whenever they have a question or a dilemma The Cat in the Hat always seems to show up. When Nick and Sally need to learn to sing better The Cat takes them on a trip to meet a whale, or they want to know how to build a castle with their blocks so they go visit The Cat's friend who happens to be a termite and an excellent architect. Kids learn how to appreciate animals and nature by seeing life through their eyes (with the help of The Cat's Shrink-a-Majigger).

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has a way of capturing children's attention. The bright and colurful animation is very nicely done. Mickey and his friends solve problems using basic reasoning and logic while learning about everything from colors, shapes and numbers to how to care for an infant. The shows have all really diverse topics but they have a lot of repetitive themes such as the 'Hot Dog' song that everyone sings when they solve a problem and the Mouseketools they use throughout the show. This is a great show that makes kids think outside the box when solving problems and teaches them to be resourceful.

 This is a pretty recent show, as of February, 2011. Although it may not be as educational as the other shows, it has a good message, and is interesting for both you and your child. Chances are you remember Captain Hook from your childhood, and this show illustrates him as a comical and sometimes delusional villain. Overall, this is a good show for your children to watch. Jake and his crew always do the right thing, while Hook humorously shows what doing the wrong thing can lead to. It's a fun way to teach kids how to be respectful and make the right decisions when they're at school or playing with friends.