January 16: Sid

I thought I had watched every educational kids' show on TV with my children at one time or another. But, life really is full of surprises. As I discovered Saturday morning when I took in my first full episode of "Sid, the Science Kid". I had caught bits and pieces of the show here and there; passing through to pick up toys or clean up the living room. But, I'd never had the privilege of watching a full episode. From what I can gather, the show focuses on a single topic and then Sid and his pals - Gabriela, Gerald and May - take you through some educational facts about said topic via activities, humor, music and dancing. The addition of their Teacher, Ms. Susie, and Sid's Grandma add some charm to the story. The episode on this day was "Don't Forget the Leaves", during which Sid and friends learns that leaves are food for animals and they make nutrients so flowers and trees can grow. Though the learning points were pretty basic, it still engaged the whole family. And, given that I'm no expert on leaves myself, I even learned a couple of new things . For example, did you know that there are Raffia Palm Trees in Madagascar that have leaves that can grow over 60 feet in length? Pretty cool stuff. There's a million so-called "children's shows" out there, so it was refreshing to find one that goes beyond simple entertainment and provides some knowledge that sticks with kids long after the show has ended. Even today, the morning after, my kids can tell me some facts they learned about leaves. With characters who possess a passion for learning, and to whom children in their viewing audience can definitely relate, the show excels at making learning fun for kids! Now, if only school could excel in that same way.