A lot of parents might disagree with this but chalk me up as one of those that doesn’t believe that TV is bad for kids.
While my daughter is only 8 months old, she’s already amazed with the fun characters and bright colors of the big magic box in our living room. And if Abby is watching these ’toons, guess who else is watching, too? That’s right ... me.
I’ll be honest with you, while these modern cartoons are seriously lacking in fun compared to the cartoons I watched as a kid, they are not all that bad. Now I know that these shows aren’t made for me, but some of them are down right terrific. And you know what? Some of them aren’t.
So if you’re looking for a great show to sit down and watch with your child, let’s break down the good and the bad of the new cartoon landscape.
THE GOOD
“Dinosaur Train,” PBS: No matter what cartoon you watch, the point of every one is to teach. “Dinosaur Train” is a brilliant tool to teach children about science and the dinosaurs. (Much better than that big purple guy.) Together with his adopted Pterandon family, a young T. Rex named Buddy explores the dinosaur world, learning about every species imaginable.
“The Backyardigans,” Nick Jr.: No cartoon has a better use of imagination than “The Backyardigans.” In each episode, the five main characters — Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, Austin and Uniqua — create an adventure in their own backyard and tell the tale using a different genre of music; anything from disco and big band to Motown and reggae. Adults be warned: these songs will stick in your brain forever.
“Sid the Science Kid,” PBS: I love the emphasis on science that some of these new shows are putting forth. “Sid” is no exception. Each episiode, Sid and his pals explain a different scientific principle involving things like health, the senses, tools and the body.
“Ni Hao, Kai-Lan,” Nick Jr.: The great thing about “Ni Hao, Kai-Lan” is that it teaches on so many levels, combining imagination, language skills, culture and manners. During any given show, you can learn Chinese, chase a dragon or understand the importance of keeping promises. (Warning: the clip below is a bit...um...odd.)
“Wonder Pets,” Nick Jr.: I won’t deny that “Wonder Pets” is quickly becoming one of my daughter’s favorite shows. Linny the Guinea Pig, Tuck the Turtle and Ming-Ming the Duckling work together to save baby animals that have gotten themselves into precarious situations. Not only is this a great starter to learn about animals, but kids may pick up a thing or two about teamwork and friendship.
THE NOT SO GOOD
“Dora the Explorer,” Nick Jr.: Sorry, but this show might seriously be one of the worst cartoons I’ve ever watched. I know that it’s meant for children but there are times when it appears to be insulting my 8-month-old’s intelligence. Why are you asking me where the tree is when you are standing right next to it? And last week they actually had an episode about junk that pretty much advocated our children to pick through garbage.
“Max & Ruby,” Nick Jr.: Max and Ruby freak me out. They are two giant rabbits who happen to be brother and sister. They spend 30 minutes unsupervised running around trying to plant gardens and cook meals or whatever other self-sufficient tasks they can get into. Occasionally, we see a grandmother but their parents are nowhere to be found. Where are they? Anyone? My guess is in a stew somewhere.
“Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends,” Nick Jr.: You know what kids? Bugs are not your friends. Granted they may not all be dangerous but this show depicts bugs like spiders, ants and cockroaches as cute little guys with great personalities. I can assure you, there is not a wood spider or palmetto bug in Florida with a sunny disposition.
Here's the bugs in German!
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