A Parent's Review of Some Popular Preschool TV Shows

Yes, I know, my kids watch too much TV. In my defense, it is winter and we are spending a lot of time together inside. So, I've gotten to know quite a few different children's television shows and thought I'd share my thoughts on some of our favorites.

Super Why: Super Why, on PBS, is a new addition to our line-up and one that both my three year old and I are pretty pleased about. Super Why teaches reading skills in a fun and innovative way. The 4 main characters, Whyatt, Little Red Riding Hood, Princess Pea and Pig need to solve a different "Super Big Problem" each episode. Their problems are often based on well known fairy tales and their solutions always include using their reading skills. Viewers are encouraged to recognize letters of the alphabet, make the sound the letter makes and put the letters together to make words. I am convinced that this show has helped my three year old become very interested in letters and words. She has learned to sound out words and is very interested in reading and spelling. Thank you Super Why!

Dora and Diego: Admittedly, we do not watch as much Dora the Explorer or Go Diego Go as we used to watch. But, when we're tired and need a friend, we seem to turn to them. We have picked up some Spanish vocabulary, a love of animals and keen sense of exploration that often carries over into our imaginative play.

Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends: This is currently at the top of our entertainment list. We just can't get enough of these little buggies. The whole family gets along so well and is always having fun. For a woman who doesn't care much for spiders (ok, we're being honest here, I despise them!), I am awfully fond of this show. We are learning a lot about bugs and what different kinds of bugs do. We're also learning to be nice to people (or bugs) that are different than we are. And I'm learning not to step on them, although I do still have standards and we will not be getting a jewel beetle as a pet.

Oswald: It is not just the voice of Fred Savage that draws us to this show. We really like the big blue octopus, his dog Weenie, his flower friend Daisy and the rest of the entourage. We like the lessons they teach and really, it's just fun to watch a big blue octopus walk around Great Big City with a hat on his head.

Pinky Dinky Doo: Pinky is one imaginative little girl with a big vocabulary. She likes to make up stories in her story box with her little brother Tyler. My daughter's new favorite toy is a cardboard "story" box that she climbs in to tell stories. She uses some of Pinky's "great big fancy words" in her every day conversation and she uses them correctly. She learns a lot from this show and it carries over into her play.

Oh, and no, I do not work for PBS or Noggin. I'm just a big fan.