Children’s programming is not what it use to be. I remember being a child and your only choice was Sesame Street. Nowadays, you have stations like Noggin and Nick Jr. who are dedicated to children’s program. My daughter does not even really like Sesame Street. Some of Madison’s favorite shows include Upside Down Show and Wonder Pets. I actually TIVO these two shows for her, so we can watch them any time we want.

The Upside Down show has Shane and David, and we get to watch their daily adventures. We have been to the art museum, the movies, and the airport among several other places with them. The part Madison loves the most about this show is the imaginary remote. She often plays with her imaginary remote even when we are not watching the show. Honestly, I find the show pretty corny, but my husband giggles right along with Madison (not sure what that says). There are several learning goals with this show:

Imaginative Play

• boosts creativity by modeling pretend play
• fosters a humorous approach to problem-solving
• models a think-outside-the-box attitude

Language and Early Literacy Skills

• introduces new vocabulary in surprising and funny ways
• reinforces phonological awareness with use of alliteration, rhyming, and other kinds of language play

Cognitive Skills

• reinforces logical thinking skills such as making predictions and noticing connections
• models using abstract thinking and imagination to find new ways of looking at a problem
• demonstrates and explores relational concepts (high/low, inside/outside, light/dark)

Social and Emotional Development

• models cooperation and negotiation
• models accommodating and supporting the needs of others

At least she is learning when she is watching this. I do have to admit that my favorite imaginary remote button has to be the Irish dancing button.

The other show she enjoys is Wonder Pets. This show is about three classroom pets named Linny (he’s the guinea pig), Ming-Ming (the duck), and Tuck (the turtle). The show is about how these three animals turn into superhereos to save other animals in trouble. This is one of my favorite shows. It is cute and even holds my attention. The learning goals that are supported by this show are:

Cognitive Skills
Language and Early Literacy

• introduces new vocabulary
• reinforces phonological awareness with its use of sung dialogue, rhythms, alliteration, and songs

Music

• exposes viewers to a wide range of musical styles and formats
• helps make connections between musical styles and world cultures

Social and Emotional Development

• promotes appreciation of and orientation towards teamwork
• models cooperation with others
• reinforces the value of listening to others’ ideas
• models an attitude of helping

There are a few other show I like too, but these are Madison two main shows that we do not miss. These shows are not too annoying, and I like that she is learning something by watching them.