What shows do you feel provide the best education value (along with entertainment for your...

[gbailey]

I really enjoy watching Go Diego Go with DD. She learns a lot about animals and what they do. I thought the show was just annoying until DD asked me to waddle like a penguin and creep and crawl like lions. I wish Nick Jr. would create a 20 minute show based on the Moose. We get a lot out of those short lessons.

[bcblondie]

I honestly don't feel like DS learns a thing watching any type of TV show. He might pick up a word or 2 but really, he'd pick up teh same had we'd been playing with him instead.

TV is basically a time killer when we're bored or a distractor when I need stuff done.

[mommariffic]

We watch nature programs, or Nat Geo, or the Smithsonian channel and you can def learn from those (although they are ideal for older kids. DD is pretty mature for 3 1/2 so she can learn from some of the more basic programing...) We also sit with our kids if we have something on, and are on hand to answer questions or talk about what's going on 

[SeekingJoy]

DS loves the "how things work/are made" types of shows and seems to learn more from them than when we just read books (although he loves his books about how things work). I think it has to do with seeing how the moving pieces all work together.

[Aquitane]

My kids are older, 12 and 7.  We watch a lot of Discovery, History, and National Geographic Channels.  We love Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs.  We love the geology and astronomy shows on Disc. and Nat. Geo.  My son loves history, especially stuff about WWII, so he also enjoys the History Channel.  Oh, we've also been watching Billy the Exterminator.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by Aquitane 

My kids are older, 12 and 7.  We watch a lot of Discovery, History, and National Geographic Channels.  We love Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs.  We love the geology and astronomy shows on Disc. and Nat. Geo.  My son loves history, especially stuff about WWII, so he also enjoys the History Channel.  Oh, we've also been watching Billy the Exterminator.

This for now, ds is 10, when he was younger he LOVED the magic school bus and I SPY (DVD's)

[frugalmama]

Originally Posted by Aquitane 

My kids are older, 12 and 7.  We watch a lot of Discovery, History, and National Geographic Channels.  We love Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs.  We love the geology and astronomy shows on Disc. and Nat. Geo.  My son loves history, especially stuff about WWII, so he also enjoys the History Channel.  Oh, we've also been watching Billy the Exterminator.

This is my 4 year old DD all the way - her favorite show is Dirty Jobs or Ice Road Truckers. She really likes to watch people do things!

[phathui5]

My 5yo and 3yo like to watch "Between the Lions," which seems to focus on learning to read.

10yo ds has been watching Nova lately. The other day, he watched an episode about fractals that we had taped.

[woodchick]

DD1 watches more TV than I am personally comfortable with, but she seems to learn so much from it.  And is exposed to many more topics than I could strew about in any given week.   I am surprised at how many things she has learned from TV that she intertwines into our daily activities.  It has really provided a great jumping off point for discussions and library book choices and whatnot.

Shows that we have found particularly interesting:

Curious George- great for science and math

Sid the Science Kid- ditto above

Dragonfly TV- aimed for older kids than my 4yo, but she enjoys the 'newsy, information' style

Dinosaur Train-dinos, but also things like interpersonal relationships, dealing with siblings, science, history, nature

[BabyFireFly]

DD and I both watch Dirt Girl World together.....and DH will often sit and watch as well, though he says that the Grub character freaks him out a little. Haha.

[Alyantavid]

We don't have tv, just netflix so mine watch alot of documentaries.  My youngest (4.5) loves Sid the Science Kid, Dora, Diego and the Backyardigans.  Any documentary about dinosaurs, animals or nature are very popular with them.  They also love Johnny Test, but that's not really educational. Funny though.  :)

[SeekingJoy]

I thought of this thread today when we watched 45 minutes of short YouTube videos on learning how to juggle -- and then started trying to teach ourselves how with our playsilks -- and then this afternoon watched another short on how to build a cook fire in a wood stove. (Five-year olds ask to learn about some random, random things.)

[lactatinggirl]

DD is 22 months and absolutely loves Yo Gabba Gabba. I don't know how much she learns from it, but she gets up and dances with them and sings the songs. I also like that it keeps to themes that I deem appropriate for an almost two year old. I've seen some shows that have characters plotting against one another and what not and I just don't like it. In this show all of the characters have good intentions, but sometimes mess up in toddler-like ways (such as the "Don't bite your friends" song).

[WorldsBestMom]

Discovery Channel for Kids, and PBS. Now shows like Seaseme Street ages like fine wine and kids still van learn from it. Not to mention the popular Dora The Explorer. My Dd loves that show.