When my eldest daughter was born, I scoffed at the idea of introducing my kids to television. I devoured every AAP study about the harms of showing TV shows to children, and swore to keep my kids screen-free for as long as possible. Once Molly turned one, I accidentally flipped the TV to Sesame Street instead of turning it off. She sat, spellbound, as Elmo appeared on the screen and sang “La-la-la-la, Elmo’s world!” Well, this is pretty great, I thought. I bet I could even take a shower without sticking my head out and throwing her toys.
That day led to showing the last 15 minutes of Sesame Street every day, which eventually led to the entire episode of Sesame Street, which eventually led to where we are now: TV lovers. I use Disney Jr. in place of the nap that my four-year-old gave up a year ago, and movies at the end of the day so I can clean up my kids’ dinner and scarf down my own meal before bed. My family likes to snuggle up together on the couch and watch movies on cold nights, which are becoming more and more prevalent this winter. We’ve been searching for shows that are great for all of us: non-animated, non-controversial, and family-friendly, so that we can watch together while sharing snacks.
Here are some of our favorites:
America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
I watched this show when Bob Saget hosted in the early ’90s, and recently discovered that Alfonso Ribera of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fame is now hosting. This show has taught us not to ride a skateboard down a stair rail, and that accidentally hitting your dad in the nuts with a baseball bat is always funny.
Master Chef Junior (FOX)
This show stars Gordon Ramsay (meow!), but instead of his typical grumpy, cursing British self, he’s actually sweet to the kids. My kids like to pick their favorites each season and root them on to win this two-month kids’ cooking competition.
Say Yes to the Dress (TLC)
I’m not sure that boys would enjoy this as much as my girls do, but we like to spend our Sunday mornings watching stressed-out brides try on wedding gowns.
Too Cute (Animal Planet)
Tiny puppies and kitties take bubble baths and snuggle. Everyone says, “Awww! Can we get one?!” over and over. It’s precious.
Chopped Junior (Food Network)
Similar to its adult counterpart, kids are given a “mystery box” and compete to make the best dish. At the end of the day, the judges choose a winner of four. My kids like to watch and then play their own version in their play kitchen.
Cupcake Wars (Food Network)
We love this Food Network show, where teams of bakers compete to make unique cupcakes. Several San Antonio bakeries have been on the show, so check one out after watching.
The Carbonaro Effect (TruTV)
Michael Carbonaro is a magician who plays tricks on unsuspecting prey. The kids love watching his magic tricks and crack up when the participants on the show react in disbelief.
Full House (Nickelodeon)
Full House is a perfect trip down memory lane for me, and just as funny for my kids now as it was 20 years ago for me. It’s fun to hear my kids say, “You got it, dude!” and “Cut. It. Out.” Netflix is about to release Fuller House, its own sequel to the original series, and we all can’t wait!
I hope this relieves a little of your television guilt. Spend some time snuggling with your kids and watching a new show!
Lmfao!