Though I have many fond memories of reading the "Harry Potter" series and playing outside with the neighborhood kids as a child, I also have vivid memories of watching certain shows on TV after school or in the evenings. My list may differ from yours, but I'm sure everyone has a few shows that come to mind whenever they think of their childhood. Regardless of the show in question, thinking of childhood TV favorites always brings an enormous wave of nostalgia to mind. While I may be older now, I will always have a place in my heart for these six TV shows.

1. Spongebob Squarepants

Something about the absolute absurdity, stupidity, and charm of "Spongebob" has always stuck with me, and I feel like I've never grown out of it. "Spongebob" worms its way into your consciousness and just stays there for the rest of your life. Lines like, "Is mayonnaise an instrument?," "CHOCOLATE!," and "The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma" have become part of my daily vernacular. Whenever I casually quote "Spongebob," someone around me always picks up on it or finishes the quote, and the conversation usually devolves into a call-and-response session of "Spongebob" quoting and hysterical laughter. This show premiered when I was two years old, so I honestly can't remember a time without it. Newer cartoons just can't compare to "Spongebob;" it was and remains a landmark television program that will stand the test of time.

2. Zoom

"Zoom" was the first show I remember being absolutely obsessed with, to the point where I would count down the minutes until 4 p.m. on week days, when it would be on PBS. I idolized all of the kids on the show, called "Zoomers," and genuinely wished I could move to Boston and be on this show. Like, I literally dreamed about being on this show. I loved all of the creative, interesting show segments, like when they would make fruit pizza, spoke in the "Zoom" language "Ubbi Dubbi," or just sat on the couches and chatted. The Zoomers always looked like they were having the time of their lives. When "Zoom" was canceled in the mid-2000s, I cried and was absolutely devastated. My mom actually called the TV station to ask why it was canceled, and got me some "Zoom" VHS tapes so I could continue indulging in my love for "Zoom." Alas, it never came back to TV, but it was replaced by another show on PBS that I think I ended up loving even more...

3. Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman

I'm not sure how popular this show actually was among the greater American youth, but I know that when this premiered in 2006 in place of "Zoom," I was thrilled. I used to record episode after episode of "Fetch" and rewatch them on weekends, to the point where the DVR was almost entirely filled with "Fetch" episodes. For those of you who didn't watch this, it was essentially a reality show hosted by a cartoon dog, Ruff Ruffman. There were six kid contestants who competed in weekly challenges for points, and at the end of the season, whoever had the most points was the winner. As with "Zoom," I was immensely jealous of all the contestants and wished with all of my heart that I could be on this show. I learned a remarkable amount while watching "Fetch" about the planets, how to make a windmill out of paper plates, and how to market ice cream flavors to the public, among other things. I recently found out that "Fetch" is now on Netflix, so whenever I feel like being especially nostalgic for my fifth-grade self, I know where to go!

4. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Thus ends the non-Disney Channel portion of this article. I've talked to many people about this show over the years, and we all agree that "Suite Life" was one of the best Disney Channel shows ever. I spent probably way too much time procrastinating on my one daily hour of elementary school homework watching it. I remember almost every episode, from the one where Cody briefly moves into the broom closet, to the one where Zack and Cody both take wood shop, to the one where Zac Efron guest starred as that guy at the art museum... You get the point. I absolutely loved this show from the bottom of my heart. Every single character was unique and funny, and though I didn't quite realize it at the time, I think I had a huge crush on Cody. Sorry, Zack. "Suite Life" defined an entire generation of children's television and will always remain at the pinnacle of Disney Channel greatness for me, along with one other notable show...

5. Hannah Montana

"Hannah Montana" consistently made me laugh until I cried. It launched Miley Cyrus into superstardom, and consequently launched itself into my heart, where it has remained ever since. I thought Miley Stewart was the coolest girl ever with her incredible ability to lead a secret double life as a "normal teenager" by day and as a pop star by night. I also am not ashamed to admit that I owe part of my knowledge of bones thanks to "The Bone Dance." I even remember being confused when, sometime around the fourth or fifth season, Hannah switched from a long blond wig to a shorter, wavier blond wig and I thought she was being rebellious. If I ever flip through the channels and see that "Hannah Montana" is miraculously back on TV in reruns, I'll probably jump for joy, do a victory dance, and immediately sit down to watch it and relive fondly-remembered middle school afternoons.

6. American Idol

This choice is rather timely, seeing as "American Idol" just had its series finale last week and, like nearly every show on this list is officially done for good. Though it was definitely time for it to end, for a long time, "American Idol" was my number one favorite show, and I was sad when I found out it was ending. I watched it religiously until about Season 11, but honestly, I felt that the quality of the entertainment was never the same after Simon Cowell left. Nevertheless, I looked forward to "American Idol" every week for years. It introduced me to many songs, genres of music, and singers that I now listen to regularly. "American Idol" was my introduction to the world of popular music and live performances, and its stories of singers from small towns who made it big always inspired me. "American Idol" may have overstayed its welcome on television, but I will never forget how much joy and happiness it brought to my childhood self.

There are definitely other shows I could have included, but these six have all particularly influenced me in different ways. All six are like old friends that I don't think about too often, but which continue to pop back into my consciousness periodically and without warning. Ah, nostalgia...