Best Family Shows to Watch with Your Kids

There are some family shows you can watch with your kids, without anyone being embarrassed. There are two educational and developmental shows aimed at the preschool set, both on PBS. Tweens will also find a new show on the Disney Channel, starring Demi Lovato of Camp Rock fame.

Best Family Shows to Watch with Your Kids

Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures

Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures is a new show on some PBS stations. The show is for children ages two to five, and their parents. Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures can help ease children from preschool into kindergarten, or from a half-day program to a full-day program. There are lots of changes for kids during the transition to school, including learning how to make friends and solve small conflicts.

The voices in Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures will be familiar and comforting to parents. Voices include Bess Armstrong (My So Called Life) as Betsy's mom. Daveigh Elizabeth Chase is Betsy, playing a much less scary role than her Samara character in The Ring.

Main characters include the teacher, voiced by Sally Struthers, and a principal voiced by Tom Bosley, best known for playing Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days. Fred Willard is the friendly bus driver. Also recognizable is the voice of Nancy Cartwright, who voices Bart Simpson.

Check Betsy at PBS to find out when it airs in your area.

The Electric Company

One of my favorite shows as a kid is coming back, but not in reruns. The Electric Company is up and running again on PBS Kids. The Electric Company picks up where some schools have left off, or chosen not to go: phonics. The phonics approach to reading was also a big part of the original show, and smartly is part of the revamped new TV show for kids and families.

The Electric Company is for children ages six to nine, according to PBS. However younger children can also pick up on some early reading skills and learn new vocabulary.

The Electric Company is now airing on PBS. Schedules for PBS stations differ, so you will need to check the Electric Company website for the schedule.

Sonny With a Chance

Hannah Montana may have to move over and give Demi Lovato a chance. Demi Lovato starred in the popular Camp Rock on The Disney Channel. Now Disney is giving Demi Lovato a chance. She stars in Sonny With a Chance, premiering on February 8, 2009 at 8pm on Disney Channel

Imagination Movers

Families with young children can make their own indoor exercise fun, without a Wii. Watching and moving along with the Imagination Movers is a smart way to get the whole family moving and grooving. The Imagination Movers are much cooler than The Wiggles. A new episode of the Imagination Movers air on Saturday, January 31, 2009 on the Playhouse Disney.

6teen

Tune in with tweens and watch 6teen on the Cartoon Network, for a change of pace. It's about teens working and socializing in a mall.

Sources

Betsy, http://pbskids.org/betsy

Cartoon Network

Daveigh Chase, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0153738/bio

Disney Channel, home.disney.go.com/tv

PBS Kids, http://pbskids.org

The Electric Company, http://pbskids.org/electriccompany

Playhouse Disney Guide for Grown-ups, http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/grown-ups/tvschedule.html

Imagination Movers, http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/imaginationmovers/index.html

Sonny with a Chance, http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/sonnywithachance