Noggin for Kids

Noggin for Kids Television

Noggin for kids is made available through Nick Jr., which is a division of the Nickelodeon television network. Noggin provides programming for preschoolers which is free of the commercials which parents may find obtrusive and annoying when considering what shows to allow their children watch. Without commercials for sugary cereals, expensive toys, and inappropriate movies, parents can confidently allow their children to view Noggin without fear that there will be a barrage of requests from the kids for advertised goods after the shows conclude.

Popular Shows

Popular shows on Noggin include:

• Oobi
• Dora the Explorer
• Max and Ruby
• The Backyardigans
• Blue's Clues
• LazyTown

Many Noggin shows can also be found elsewhere. Nick Jr. shows are often featured on Noggin, and some Sesame Street characters also make appearances on this channel. Although full-length Sesame Street episodes are not a regular feature on the Noggin lineup of shows, Play With Me Sesame is a regular show and is billed as an interactive Sesame Street program with a run time of thirty minutes.

The N

Preschool programming does not dominate the channel completely; shows marketed toward teenagers are shown on Noggin in the evening. For more information on the shows on Noggin designed for teenage viewers, check out the website for The N, which is the name given to programming on Noggin for teenagers. The N does not necessarily feature educational programming, although Noggin is marketed as an educational television channel.

Availability

Noggin is not available in all areas of the United States, although a request to your local cable company or satellite television provider may yield results.

Noggin Online

The Noggin website features plenty of fun games and activities for preschoolers including:

• Online games featuring popular Noggin characters
• Music videos featuring characters from Noggin shows and other artists
• Printable coloring pages
• A complete schedule of shows
• Parental resources

Parents can create personalized profiles for their kids on the Noggin website.

Parents can also find detailed descriptions for each show featured on the Noggin channel, including which characters are featured in the show and what developmental advantage the show is purported to have. Some shows on Noggin are designed to assist preschoolers with academic learning while others attempt to teach children about emotional issues. Each show on Noggin has a learning goal, and the goal is clearly outlined online. This is a great resource for parents who would like to research shows prior to plopping their kids down in front of the television.

Buy Noggin Merchandise

Noggin merchandise is available online. You can purchase cute shirts and other merchandise for your kids in addition to hats, tote bags, and other items featuring Noggin characters.

The Noggin Get Ready to Read Campaign

Noggin sponsors an initiative to provide free books to low-income children. They promote this cause based on two ideas:

• Not many low income children have books of their own.
• There appears to be a correlation between the number of books children have access to at home and their academic success.

For more information on the Get Ready to Read campaign, or to find out how to donate to this worthy cause, visit the First Book informational page on the Noggin website. After all, watching Noggin programming is fun and surfing the various games offered on the website can be an entertaining activity with your kids, but nothing beats reading a book together for your child's intellectual development.

Noggin for Kids' Noggins

The jury is still out as to whether watching television is detrimental to children's development, or if it is actually advantageous. If you children are going to watch TV, the Noggin channel is a viable option because of its educational programming and lack of commercials.