“Lessons in Parenting: Couch Potato 101.”

By Bry Schulz

As a mother I have many opinions. It’s just how mothers roll I guess. And since I'm relatively new at this gig (my son’s only 1), I'm still a newbie. However I feel it necessary to share any knowledge I do have on to other mothers, and parents in general.



We fumble a lot, us parents. So I figured I'd throw our little new parental "demo" a bone. I've done some "research" into current children's programming. There are two channels, at least in my cable line up, that excel at TV shows for the kiddos. Those channels are Sprout and Noggin. Here's a list of my top three favorite kids’ shows from those two channels.

Number One: “Yo Gabba Gabba!” on Noggin. I admit my prior knowledge of this show was based on what I'd seen on E!'s “The Soup's” segment called "What the Kids are Watching." And for those of you who know what that is there's more to it than just watching Nathaniel who "likes to dance." The show centers on a bizarrely clothed DJ whose boom box holds five cool characters who come to life and sing and dance for you every day. One of them even looks like a bumpy fallace. I can laugh at that.

One of the main reasons I enjoy this show though is the music. They sing an interesting library of music that's not only fun but seriously poignant. Like singing about waiting in line, "It's only fair to wait right there!" or the song about not biting each other, "We don't want to bite, cause that's not right." Another reason this show is fab is the guest stints. Jack Black, The Ting Tings, Laila Ali, Biz Markie, just to name a few. Plus there's a regular knock-knock joke told by Paul Sheer (frequent on 30 Rock) and Jack McBrayer (regular on 30 Rock). To be honest this show is so much fun I might be a fan even if I wasn't a parent. (maybe not).

Check out a sample here:

http://2nuff.multiply.com/video/item/8/Dont_Bite_Your_Friends_-_Yo_Gabba_Gabba



Number Two: On the Sprout channel you can find “Thomas and Friends.” It's an old school looking show done without any animation and using all live action trains. A break from the ordinary cartoon you usually get forced into watching. The episodes are quick, usually only seven minutes or so. There's always a lesson to be learned like why you shouldn't call other trains names, or lie, or be too full of yourself. (trains are so hot right now). I have a son so this may not be interesting if you have a daughter, but my son's already into it.

The best part about this show? It's voiced by George Carlin. He does great voices too! Each character he gives a different voice or even accent (one of them is Scottish, no lie). I have also seen one episode voiced by Alec Baldwin and he did a good job too. According to www.imdb.com Carlin was the voice from 1991-1995 and Baldwin voiced from 1998-2003. So while these are apparently old episodes you can still get into them. Toot toot.

Number Three: “The Backyardigans.” This show will reach inside you and pull out your inner child. There's singing, dancing and playing pretend. The five main characters (not all appear in every episode) meet up in their connecting backyards to play. Quickly after the beginning of the show the backdrop melts away into whatever they've decided to imagine for the day. They've been pirates, cowboys, explorers and spies all the while singing songs that will get stuck in your head. Not stuck in your head in the way a Britney Spears song will (and make you want to jam a pen in your ear and lose all bladder control). They're silly and clever and it's fun for the kids. Oh, kids - that's what this is really about anyway right? “The Backyardigans” is on Noggin and I highly recommend it.

Tolerable Mention: There are a few shows that should get a nod from me too. “Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends” is on Noggin. The coolest thing about this computer animated show is that Miss Spider is voiced by Kristin Davis (Charlotte of S&TC). Another show worth mentioning is the always educational “Sesame Street.” The other day they had an episode where monsters just walked around beating themselves in the face to a beat - their noses make noise. Pure genius. I laughed for a while about that one. And lastly “The Hoobs” on Sprout. It's British. It's about alien puppets who call the "humans" (us non-puppets) Tiddly-Peeps. That's fun.

All mom and dad tiddly-peeps rejoice and feel guilt free when watching the tube. To hell with those people who say television rots the brain. You know the TV can't teach your children not to stick their fingers in a light socket or feed them nutritious meals. So enjoy the moments you get in your day to sit with your kids and "veg out." Because relaxing can be a good lesson, right? Watch me son, this is how you sit on your ass.



BYLINE:

Bry Schulz is a writer, photographer, and mother who really hates squash. Not necessarily the game but definitely the vegetable.