My oldest kid – she’s six – has the makings of a scientist, if only because she can’t stop asking “why?” every 30 blessed seconds. One of her all-time favorite shows (and mine, if the truth is to be told) is Fetch with Ruff Ruffman, which is a PBS Kids’ program that features an animated dog and kids who are sent out to solve problems. It’s all very silly while remaining smart.
The youngest – he’s three – enjoys Fetch, too, but only because his sister won’t let him change the channel. He has to watch it, unless he wants to go play. And, seriously, who wants to do that when there’s a TV with a talking dog on it?
I doubt he’s getting more than simple enjoyment out of Fetch, which is fine. The concepts are a little to abstract for him to really get a grasp on. Enjoyment has value, sure, but it’d be nice to learn a little, too.
Enter Sid the Science Kid, PBS’ co-production with The Jim Henson Company, which debuts on Sept. 1. Pitched at the pre-school set, Sid explores all of those “why” questions that my older kid can’t stop asking, like ‘why do bananas get mushy” and “why are my shoes shrinking” and “why did mommy ask me to stop talking?”
OK, maybe not that last one.
Still, the Boy loves him some Sid and remained glued to the telly for the entire 25 minutes. His sister, who declared it “lame” when I first popped the disc in, asked to see it again later that night. And again that morning. And again after school. And went to the show’s website to poke around and watch the music clips. Which means we might have different definitions of what “lame” means.
From an adult’s perspective, the jokes are kinda lame, by the standard definition. And Sid’s friends are a little stereotypical, from Gabriela, the tomboy who likes pink, and Gerald, the boy who thinks he’s an airplane. But my perspective is irrelevant because my kids like Sid so much. Which is great because they (and all of their “whys”) are the show's target and it hits that mark well.
