Here’s something they don’t teach you when you’re pregnant with your first child: You’re going to have to get familiar with children’s television. And for the most part, it’s going to suck
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Most parents flip the TV on at least a few times a week. Let’s face it, sometimes we need to shower. Or take an important phone call. Or breathe for twenty minutes. No one wants to use the television as a babysitter, but for the times when our kids do watch TV, it helps to know they’re watching something good.
Yo Gabba Gabba is hands down my favorite children’s television program. Created by goofy musicians with kids, it features short clips that teach kids about social skills like sharing and getting over fears. The educational tone focuses more on interpersonal life lessons than reading/memorization. It’s sort of Sesame Street for hipsters, with a mixture of costumed character segments and great animated musical clips.
Why do I love it? (And by love it I mean that I honestly watch it without my kids all the time sometimes.)
- Music: Not only do great bands like the Shins, Cornelius, and Mates of State perform, Yo Gabba Gabba also features original music for preschoolers in genres like New Wave, Hip Hop, Ska, and Pop.
- Variety:
Yo Gabba Gabba plays a little like a variety show for tiny kids. It’s fast-paced, brightly colored, and musical.
- Education: With gentle themes like dealing with sadness, appreciating family, and learning to share, Yo Gabba Gabba isn’t just about crazy music and dancing. The lessons are weaved in throughout each simply-titled episode, like “Find.”
- Movement: My son tends to act like a total couch potato. I love that Yo Gabba Gabba gets him up and moving, with dances and “cool tricks” that he tries to perform. Each show features tons of adorable kids his age, and he loves that.
- Celebrities: If I’m going to be stuck watching a show for preschoolers, it’s an awesome bonus when I can geek out over stars like Jack Black, Sean Kingston, Biz Markie, Jack McBrayer, Mya, Tony Hawk and Elijah Wood.
Lastly? My kid loves it. And as much as it’s rad that I love it too, ultimately he’s the one that counts.
Singing Yo Gabba Gabba songs. on 12seconds.tv
On April 7th, Yo Gabba Gabba!: New Friends comes out on DVD. It features the brand new Jack Black episode, New Friends, that launched last Friday on Nick Jr. I’m embarrassed to say that we’ve already watched it about fifteen times. Jack Black is adorable, earnest and hilarious. You can really tell he’s genuinely interested in what he’s doing. (Check out the adorable behind the scenes video here.)
[rating: 5/5]
Free Stuff Alert – Giveaway Ended, Congrats Heather!
One lucky reader will win a copy of Yo Gabba Gabba!: New Friends on DVD. The DVD has a running time of 98 minutes and features a brand new episode, New Friends, as well as classics Find, Greetings, and Share.
To Enter you MUST:
- Leave a comment telling us something you think children’s television programming should include.
For Additional Entries:
- Tweet about this contest! Leave an additional comment letting us know you tweeted (and your Twitter name.)
- Stumble this giveaway. Leave a comment letting us know you stumbled, with a link to your Stumble account.
COMMENTS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE ENTRY RULES WILL BE DELETED. The winner will be chosen using a random-number generator. Contest runs through Monday, April 13 at noon EST. Residents of US and Canada only. Please make sure you leave a valid email address!
About the author: Maria is surrounded by boys. She gets all aflutter when she finds good deals, new episodes of Gossip Girl, and big bold bottles of red wine. Read more from this author.
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Geez… what would the ideal kid’s show include that Yo Gabba Gabba already doesn’t? Muppets, perhaps, but not creepy generic ones. Veiled adult humor, for the parents. And some redeeming lesson. And heart – loads of it. Gabba Gabba, fortunately, has it all. I’m hopelessly in love with that show.
But I think the key to any great kids show is whether you’ll unabashedly claim it as your own when you’re a teenager, twenty-something, or new parent. I stand by my vintage Sesame Street stuff to this day, and I hope my daughter feels the same about DJ Lance & Co. Not sure the kids raised on Barney will feel the same way.
Tweeted for the masses @mattdaigle… http://twitter.com/mattdaigle/status/1462955957
Yo Gabba Gabba sem to be the end all for kids television, to me anything that educates and keeps them interested is wonderful. With 4 girls I am always searching for something GOOD for them to watch. I retweeted on twitter. madly59
My daughter loves Yo Gabba Gabba and she’s got all the little plastic toys that go with the show, and she talks about it a lot. For me, with a child who really wasn’t all that into communicating when she was younger, this is great! Anything that makes her feel like talking in English (as opposed to her own brand of Darcese… or Spanish. Dora’s well enough, I suppose, but I don’t SPEAK Spanish…)
What I really hate in children’s programming is a lot of bad acting and condescending attitudes. I always hated it when someone talked to me in falsetto when I was a child; do people really think kids are that dumb? >.<
So, for good, solid children’s programming, I prefer something that’s funny, fast moving but not frenetic, encourages imagination and playing pretend, teaches basic social interactions (Have I mentioned I hate Ni Hao Kai Lan? The kids in that show are all major emos… they run off and sulk whenever things don’t go their way. NOT good encouragement!) has good acting, and people who actually care what they’re doing.
Thanks!
I think children’s television should always have some educational value. That’s why shows like Yo Gabba, WordWorld, Handy Manny, etc…are all shows I like for my kids, each show has something special they can learn from and still have a blast watching.
We love YGG. My husband and I even created it flying toast shirts and screenprinted them ourselves as favors for Clark’s second birthday. What should a kid show include? Good lessons, lovable characters, interesting music? I love that I can break out in a YGG song if Clark’s tries to like, bite someone or won’t try a new food or wants to know what sound he is hearing or it’s raining outside or… you get the picture.
Thanks for the great giveaway!!
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coolcanucks.ca
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Children’s programming should include educational and fun entertainment without the parent’s having to worry if the subject matter is inappropriate.
“There’s a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy…” How else do you get your kids to eat green beans? This was a lifesaver for us with meals some nights. I think childrens programing really should include good role models. If someone can explain how Max & Ruby are a good influence on my child, I’d sure like to know how. I prefer shows where the animals/kids/creatures are polite, friendly, and well behaved. And, I admit I get a little excited when a new WonderPets is released!
I love it when kids shows get them up and keeps them moving.
I think a kids program should be fun and have music and important life lessons (e.g. empathy).
I tweeted under Meredycat.
I am not the right person to ask about television programming, as we haven’t had cable in almost five years. But I could tell you that what it shouldn’t include—advertisements for toys or snack foods.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
Children’s TV should always include music! I think that’s one reason Yo Gabba Gabba is so great.
I love that they are teaching good manners and important lessons and not just singing about tug boats or silly dancing bears!
I tweeted it http://twitter.com/SaraMama
I think children’s shows should definitely contain a lot of educational content and music & rhymes, things that make the kids get up and move and be involved. There are quite a few good shows out there now that include this stuff and I love them. Children’s television has came a long way since spongebob!
My son would love this DVD, he loves Yo Gabba Gabba and even had that party theme for his 2nd birthday this year! At the dinner table, you are always hearing my kids and husband saying “Try it, you’ll like it”!! haha
I just tweeted!
Twitter name – thewondermomma
more life lessons and less oh it is ok things will change- get some reality in it
I think childrens TV should include more educational things such as new words, life lessons, new languages etc. Thanks.
kport207 at gmail dot com
Children’s programming should always include a moral lesson.
yo gabba gabba its well kind of funny to me but well my 2 year old is realy in to it her fave is robie and well i love to enter this so i may try and win this for her thanks.
There’s a party in my tummy! So yummy! So yummy!
I think kids’ programs should have a point, but they should TELL you the point at the end. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized Little Red Riding Hood wanted me not to talk to strangers and that Popeye was encouraging me to eat spinach. The same is true with a lot of the kids’ shows – the adults get it, but the moral sails over the kids’ heads.
Children’s television should include more art projects.
Thanks for a great give-away!!
Anna
I think kid’s programming should include parent resources on their website. Things to do or things to talk about AFTER the program is over.
Family programming should include situations that young children have do deal with, maybe bullies?
I kinda miss the basics that you’d see on Seasame Street in the 80′s. The crazy dancing characters aren’t as educational as they used to be. How about some old school shows with ABC’s and 123′s?!
something to do with learning reading singing ect. mverno@roadrunner.com
I like when children’s programming includes a lesson like values or manners,etc.
All children’s programming should be educational to some degree, learning the alphabet is a good way to start. There is too much on “kid channels” that is not educational at all.
I think there should be more about eating healthy and good manners. Do parents not teach this anymore? Anyway, my son would LOVE this DVD. Thanks for the chance!
Music,music,music.Every child’s program should have music included and mandatory.
I think all chidlren’s tv should be educational and positive!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!
Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
http://www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
children’s tv should be fun, first and foremost
kid’s programs should have lots of music :)
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1467943832
I think kids programs should have a lot of music, since that is what my kids seem to enjoy most. The sillier the songs the better.
tweet
http://twitter.com/funnyjello/status/1467961409
stumbled
http://funnyjello.stumbleupon.com/public/
It should always include something educational, but I think what is more important is what it should NOT include. =)
yzgirl4[at]verizon[dot]net
stumbled yzgirl4
yzgirl4[at]verizon[dot]net
educational value!!!
We need music!
Childen’s shows should teach something in a fun way and also try to get the kids up and moving and play-acting.
Yo Gabba Gabba includes alot of the things that we like to have for our kids. It should teach useful, age appropriate things.. but should also be fun for the kids.
It should include life lessons.
Hi, I think children’s television should include more shows like Yo Gabba Gabba. And shows that teach kids to be kind to all, not pick on certain kids and to be peaceful – not violent. I am tired of shows always fighting a cool bad guy. Thanks and blessings, Stefanie
I think children’s shows should include bright colours, music and of course be educational:)
I think this would be great for my grandchildren. It would give them something to do between our outings.
I think childrens programs need music, children love music.
More education on the environment
Children’s television programs should have more
educational programs on morality, respect for others and their property, and most of all belief in Jesus.
My children love shows that teach them “something” and are interactive. Ni Hao Kailan is one of their favorites…more shows like that would be great.
Thanks for the fun,
Christine
The IE Mommy
theiemommy(at)gmail(dot)com
I think that children’s tv should always include respect. Respect for our earth and one another.
I love it when they incorporate real life problems into simple and easy to understand problems for kids! Music is also great! My kids pick up the songs so fast!
More focus on classic things and fun (a la the new Electric Company) Less emphasis on competition and the need for material things!
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
I think it should include dancing and music, especially things that encourage kids to be more active.
lots of music, also thinks to make the little ones think.
With my son being 26 months, I love shows with lots of music, ABC’s and numbers for him. It seems like so few focus on learning!
I think children’s programming should include a story line – even a small one. And of course lots of music!
I think children’s videos should include music! I think children naturally love music! I also think it should include positive social development concepts.
thanks!
correaohana at gmail dot com
My twins LOVE yo gabba gabba. I’d love to win this!
yo gabba gabba break it down dj lang lol you know youre a mom when I rerally like this cartoon
We LOVE Yo Gabba Gabba. I think a must is good music. Music Mommy can stand to listen to over and over and over and actually like.
We love this show. It our…er…the kids’ fav. I think that music is an important element to children’s programming. My son has learned so many things in the form of a song. I’m holding my breath to see if maybe one day Yo Gabba will air a show on using the potty. Maybe they can convince my son, since I can’t seem to…
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com
There’s a party in my tummy…so yummy, so yummy! We love this show at our house :O) I think children’s shows need to have kind words and actions towards others. thanks so much!
I think there should be more manners and politeness being taught.
Definitely more giant, dancing Kong dog toys. Can’t get enough of those. Oh, and physical fitness… dancing!
I think it’s important that children’s television include learning that is FUN! I STILL remember the songs I learned on Sesame Street when I was little.
I think kids shows should have lots of music. ( my Son really likes music and really watches shows that have a lot of music) And also teach manners and respect.
I like that Yo Gabba Gabba gets kids moving and singing.
I think there should be more children’s programming that teaches about different cultures and languages. There is a big world out there, people don’t only speak English, Spanish, and Chinese.
More foreign language!
I like cultural awareness and exposure to geography etc – like Little Einsteins
My daughter LOVES this shoe!! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I think children’s tv shows should teach sharing. Something that’s important when you have more than one kid!
It really needs to have a memorable character. Something that when you are older, you can say, I remember watching that as a kid
i think children’s programing should include lessons on tolerance.
I really like shows that include some sort of message like honesty. Thanks for the chance!
Children’s programming should definitely educate as well as entertain. I haven’t seen Yo Gabba Gabba yet, but PBS shows like Word World and of course, Sesame Street, are the perfect combination of learning and fun. Thank you for the chance to win.
Cheers for doing your best. It’s okay to win, and it’s okay to do your best and not win. This PC “everybody is a winner” nonsense is nauseating.
Children’s television programming should include educational programming with a touch a fun to keep the yougster focus.
Tweeted @ http://twitter.com/Naddez
My 10 month old just loves Yo Gabba Gabba. She beams everytime it comes on Treehouse.
I love kids’ shows that encourage viewers to participate in whatever’s going on onscreen — to sing along, dance along, count along, or otherwise get moving & thinking.
(I feel almost bad entering these parental-type contests, but I’d love to give a copy of this to my rockin’ ska-obsessed mama friend Sandra. I promise I’d only watch it a couple times before I gave it away.)
I think it’s important to have an element kid’s can relate to-whether it’s a character or a situation. I also think encouraging active watching is important, asking the kids questions, playing games with them, or encouraging them to get up and move. Thanks for the chance to enter! My 4 yer old loves Yo Gabba Gabba!
The kids love Yo Gabba Gabba! I think shows should include about trust and being honest! Thanks!
My son would love this DVD, there should more about respect on these shows
it should include more songs. My son loves songs. elizberry at aol dot com
Good morals and songs.
It should include more music.
Great movie for my kids, great contest!
Children’s TV programming should include short anti-abuse/neglect hotline information for parents that may be watching the show. Nothing heavy or violent, but we are kidding ourselves if we think none of the children watching tv have suffered from some type of neglect or abuse.
themeimlookingfor at yahoo dot com
Maybe showing kids how to be confident and sure of themselves beyond the whole “preshus snowflake” nonsense.
Children’s television should include more morals and values.
I definitely think manners and values should be taught. We have lost focus on things that are really important.
Clean living and environmental values without the manipulative persuasions of religion. Let them outgrow their other imaginary friends before they decide if they want another lifelong imaginary friend.
I think all kid’s programming should include humor for the adults. I think Yo Gabba Gabba is such a fun show to watch as a family. We love learning the new dance moves!
I think his programming should include some more variety. It seems like the same thing everyday and tons of reruns. Maybe some more learning shows. We watch Nick all the time because Disney shuts down early in the morning. We hate that. lol Thank you for the giveaway!!
I think there should be a lot of music and educational programs that are also not annoying for the parents to watch!
I tweeted your giveaway! (My Twitter name is @ThriftyJinxy)
I am of the philosophy that children’s programming should follow more of the Sesame Street and less of the Pokemon format- real world puppetry and stories that involved real adults.. rather than a bunch of silly collect/fight them all -a purpose that doesn’t change from show to show. I think humor sells lessons/grammar/otherwise boring school stuff excellently- remembering back on vintage Sesame St.- the chef who would try to walk down the steps exclaiming a different number, like “12 banana creme pies!” then fall down the steps :) Still makes me laugh to this day!! Sorry for the long-winded response- thanks for the entry!!
Children’s programing needs to be fun and have an important message.
I think children’s programming should include good, and moral role models to teach children respect for themselves and others and to teach them to feel good about themselves.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I sent a tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/1507325455
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Children’s programming should be educational yet fun and show that people come from different walks of life.
I think it should include programs that are on a little later for kids.
I think children’s television programming should include etiquette lessons.
A whole new generation of children and a new generation of shows to entertain them. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
children programming should include little of everything…music, dance, learning, and especially stuff to get their attention to get them to learn, thanks.
I think children’s programming should include positive attributes and stress that each child is unique and special.
I’m so mad that we missed the episode!! I love when kids programming includes trying new things, like eating different foods and stuff!!