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Too Much TV

How much TV do your kids watch? What do they watch? I remember when I was first divorced, sometimes the TV was my lifesaver. Being the only parent of an only child meant that not only was I the only one doing housework and laundry, cooking and paying bills, I was also the only other person in the house to entertain her. I hate to admit it but many times I parked Hailey in front of the TV when she wanted me to play a game with her or read a book with her, anything, she just wanted my time … Continue reading →

The New Face of Childhood Hunger

She’s 7 years old. She’s got red hair, black eyes, fuchsia skin, a big heart, and an empty stomach. Her name is Lily and she is the newest Muppet on Sesame Street. While she may not be made of flesh and blood, Lily’s story is real and very relatable to the estimated 17 million American children — nearly 1 in 4 — who have limited or uncertain access to affordable and nutritious food. Your kids will get the chance to meet Lily on a one-hour Sesame Street primetime special, called “Growing Hope Against Hunger,” which airs Sunday night. The show … Continue reading →

Beware of Crazy Fake Elmo in NYC

To know Elmo is to love Elmo… or at least to tolerate him for the sake of your toddler. Sesame Street’s beloved red monster, whose infectious laugh is known around the globe, is a welcome companion to millions of children. However, a rogue version of the lovable PBS character is giving the real Elmo a bad name. According to reports, a dirty, creepy imposter Elmo has been preying on innocent tourists in New York City. Call him Bizarro Elmo. He looks just like the real deal: red fur, big orange nose, huge white eyes, except this Elmo is filthy, rude, … Continue reading →

Sesame Street Lends a Hand to Cash-Strapped Parents

My preschooler loves watching Sesame Street, but honestly, the summer reruns are killing me. Seriously, if I have to hear Telly Monster lament about his missing triangle one more time I may reconsider Dish Network’s recent offer to hook me up with cheap satellite TV. Fortunately, I may not have to dig deep to preserve my sanity. Yesterday, the folks who produce Sesame Street announced that new episodes of the Emmy Award-winning children’s show will begin airing next month. What’s more, the new season includes a special show dedicated to the economy. If you haven’t already discussed the current financial … Continue reading →

“Sesame Street” Helping Parents Teach Kids About Terrorism

Subtitle: Elmo Meets Michael Chertoff or “The Muppets Take Manhattan… Post 9/11” I wish I were kidding. For decades parents have turned to those fun-loving furry friends on “Sesame Street” when they needed help teaching their kids how to spell, tie their shoes, and count to 10 in Spanish. But now Elmo, Grover, Big Bird, Zoe, Oscar the Grouch and crew are getting serious about a grown up topic most adults struggle to deal with—terrorism and other potential deadly catastrophes. So how exactly does a parent explain to a 3-year-old why it’s important to prepare for a terrorist attack? Don’t … Continue reading →

Family Travel: A Quacking Good Time

Ernie from “Sesame Street” would be in heaven. If your kids are as enamored with rubber ducks as the lovable orange character from the award-winning children’s television show then head to Michigan next week. That’s where you will find of one the world’s largest Rubber Ducky festivals around. The village of Bellaire in Northern Michigan is holding its annual Rubber Ducky Festival from August 6-17 and is hoping to break a record by stuffing more than 5,000 yellow ducks in the Intermediate River for a quarter-mile race on August 16th. Spectators have a chance to get in on the action … Continue reading →

PBS Classic Returns

“Hey, you guyyyyys!” The Electric Company is returning to TV. If you were a devout fan of the 1970s PBS children’s classic like I was then you have not forgotten Rita Moreno’s attention grabbing show opening scream. The instant my brothers and I would hear: “Hey, you guyyyyys!” we would run to our spots in front of the TV. While there we would anxiously wait for Spider-Man’s cameo and laugh along with the pun-filled sketches. Man, I loved that show. Which is why I was thrilled to hear that the series is coming back to PBS next January. Show producers … Continue reading →

Elmo Lends A Hand To Help Military Families

At first glance it looks like your typical Sesame Street episode. Elmo, Rosita, Zoe… the gang’s all there, but the topic covered on Sesame Workshop’s latest DVD strays from ones that are covered on traditional shows. The characters are not learning their ABCs and 123s, rather the furry friends are learning how to get in touch with their feelings. It sounds great, but don’t look for the new DVD at your local toy store. Sesame Workshop is not mass marketing this production; rather it will be distributed exclusively to military families. That’s because the episode featuring Elmo and Rosita is … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Potpourri: Babies, Billionaires and Big Names on “Sesame Street”

It’s a virtual celebrity baby bonanza… just hours after the birth of Tiger’s new cub, Julia’s latest bundle of joy and “Felicity’s” new son, Jeff Gordon has also joined the ranks of star parents. The NASCAR driver just announced on his website that his Belgian model-actress wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, gave birth to a daughter this morning in New York. The couple named their new addition Ella Sofia Gordon. The proud papa says she weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs, 1 oz. “It’s been an absolutely incredible experience,” Gordon wrote in a message on his site. “Ingrid came through amazingly … Continue reading →

“Sesame Street” In The Middle East

After being cut off because of lack of funds, “Sesame Street” is returning to TV in Israel and the Palestinian territories. It’s been more than a decade since the original versions were taken off the air, but now they are back and the timing couldn’t be better. Show producers say much like the version which airs in the United States, the Mideast version is designed to enhance educational content for kids. Using “puppet regimes,” the show employs universal themes such as promoting peace, diversity… oh, and the importance of brushing your teeth. In Israel “Sesame Street” is called “Rechov Sumsum,” … Continue reading →