Image Credit: Ali Goldstein/MSNBC; Noggin/NickRachel Maddow is my six-month-old baby’s favorite TV personality. Maybe it’s the sing-song cadence of Maddow’s voice. Maybe it’s the bright colors of her set. Maybe it’s her politics. Whatever it is, Chloe will sit quietly whenever Maddow is grilling conservatives or waxing on about infrastructure.
This was a surprise. As a new parent, I’ve been combing the channels looking for children’s shows that would be both entertaining for Chloe as well as educational. So far, she hasn’t shown much interest in anything on kiddy TV. I’m the only one who seems to be having any fun. I’ve sat with Chloe on my lap through five full episodes of Jack’s Big Music Show on Nick Jr., giddily tapping my foot and clapping my hands, shouting “Yippee!” on cue, along with the show’s adorable puppets. (David Rudman, the guy who voiced Cookie Monster on Sesame Street, is the brains behind this enchanting little series.) Chloe, though, just fusses through it all, waiting for me to switch the channel to MSNBC.
So here’s the challenge, PopWatchers: Help me find a kid’s show that my baby daughter will enjoy more than she does cable news. What’s the best, healthiest, and most entertaining show for kids on the air today?
It’s not tv, but my baby has been mesmerized by Baby Einstein stuff [on dvd] since he was very little, and at 17 months he still likes it. Not so fun for the big people, though…maybe unless you are chemically altered?
Sesame Street from the 70′s? The DVDs are cheap, and they’re so soothing I almost fell asleep when I was babysitting…
Or Yo Gabba Gabba. That has hipster parent appeal and big colorful things for the children.
If she’s looking for bright colors and sing-song voices, you can’t beat any Wiggles DVDs
Yo Gabba Gabba! Hands down! Colorful characters, relevant messages and relevant music.
agreed…if your daughter likes to dance, she’ll love it. my son’s three and a half and he’s still crazy for it. loves the music, which I have to admit is pretty great. I’ve watched a LOT of yo gabba gabba and I’m not sick of it yet if that means anything. for a quieter pace, I second Sesame Street.
My daughter is three and a half and memorizes lines from tv’s Dr. House. She loves Hugh Laurie. She prefers him to any kids show. My child walks around saying “Oh Snap” and “It’s not LUPUS” SO FUNNY!!
Go figure, my son (20 months) loves Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He also likes Rachel though.
For breakfast, my daughter and I have a rotation of Jack’s Big Music Show, The Upside Down Show, Yo Gabba Gabba, Play with Me Sesame (just muppet scenes from Sesame Street) and DVDs of The Muppet Show.
Your baby doesn’t need tv at 6 months old! Save it for when they’re three and you desperately need them to sit quietly so you can unload the dishwasher! Lol. At 6 months they’re WAAAY too young for the TV. Just turn it off.
Yeah, I agree. I’m no Luddite, my kids grew up with Noggin, but six months?
No offense to the other parents, but the American Pediatric Academy states that no one under two years-old should watch t.v. It inhibits brain development. They cited Baby Einstein as the worst offender due to all the flashing colors.
Yeah, I hate to be a wet blanket here but pediatricians recommend that you don’t let your child watch TV during at least their first year of life, so I think you should just turn it off for a few more years. Sorry.
My Chloe is 6 mos., too! But we don’t let her watch TV
Chloe has great taste! My son is 1 and he loves loves loves Super Why (superheroes with alphabet, word, and spelling power and, of course, the power to read *insert trumpets here*) and is fascinated by Jon Stewart. Whenever Stewart does one of his doubletakes, my son mimics him and laughs and laughs.
To be clear, David Rudman is the *current* Cookie Monster, not the original, the great Frank Oz.
agreed with the No TV option as the healthiest. Best is to try to keep them away from the TV as long as they (and you) can stand it. Ideally for the first two years.
At 6 months, my daughter thought the best thing ever was the Daily Show, because she loved all the applause at the beginning of the show. She would clap along merrily…
My 2 year old twin boys love Little Bear, Curious George, Max and Ruby, and the god awful Wonder Pets
My daughter loves the Wonder Pets, too, and Wow Wow Wubbzy. But she had no interest in television when she was 6 months old. We did more music on CD than anything.
At 6 months, my daughter liked to watch football because of all the colors and motion. It is a little early to be watching anything regularly… Parts of Finding Nemo may be a great to put on for the colors and movement, too. My daughter enjoyed that.