Television has taken a drastic, more provocative turn nowadays. It's a bit more difficult to watch certain TV shows with children without worrying about whether or not there will be hidden or not so hidden dark, sometimes inappropriate humor. With that being said, parents who are raising their little ones in this present day and age are challenged with what shows they should let their kids watch; what shows will actually teach them something rather than make them lose brain cells. Now I'm definitely not saying that all children shows today are not beneficial to helping kids learn - because some of them are in fact helpful - but making the young ones watch TV shows from the earlier days would be helpful for educational purposes. Not only do these shows provide entertainment, but they will help your child, sister, cousin, etc. to expand their knowledge. Here are a few shows that I used to watch when I was younger and find helpful in a child's development:

1. "Hip Hop Harry"

Sometimes considered as the "urban Barney," "Hip Hop Harry" teaches kids to value school, inherit social skills and even develop a love for music - the hip-hop genre specifically. Not only will kids get a kick out of the music the show provides, but they'll also learn a thing or two.

2. "Little Bear"

One of my favorites (and still is) Bear, the friendly cub, teaches kids to explore their imagination. Throughout the show, Little Bear goes on many amazing adventures with his furry friends, which usually are adventures they imagine going on. A child expanding their imagination can help them become better at expressing their thoughts and writing.

3. "Dora the Explorer"

Dora encourages critical thinking, counting and even a few words here and there from the Spanish language, amongst other things. Kids can also institute the habit of listening attentively as others speak as a result of of Dora's questions throughout the show.

4. "The Magic School Bus"

Shown in many science classes, "The Magic School Bus" informs kids about the subject of science in a fun and cool way. Not only is the show instructional about the aspects of science, but it presents the material in a way that will capture a child's attention. After watching this show, many kids will want a science teacher like Ms. Frizzle.

5. "Barney"

Like "Hip Hop Harry," "Barney" teaches kids through music. He encourages using your imagination and the importance of love and family, along with teaching kids about numbers and letters of the alphabet. At the end of the day (most of the time) the "clean up" song will help kids to learn to essentially clean up after making a mess.

6. "Sesame Street"

One of the greatest, educational kid shows around, "Sesame Street" teaches kids everything from colors, letters and numbers to sharing, acceptance (racially) and so much more.

Of course there are many more informative, educational kid shows out there to help children learn. The early years in a child's life are significant which is why they should be watching the best, knowledgeable shows to help with the development as a person and future student. All of these shows are either available online for free or the DVD’s can be bought on sites such as amazon, eBay, etc. I hope I've been a help to someone reading. Have a great week to all, xo.