LilSugar

Did You Find Modern Family's "Little Bo Bleep" Controversial?

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:08:35 PST

Oh you silly Lily! Last night's episode of Modern Family had First Amendment advocates cheering, the No Cussing Club fuming, and parents everywhere nodding their heads through the shared experience as 2½-year-old Lily seemingly dropped the F-bomb throughout the episode (it was bleeped out and pixelated so viewers never heard or saw it).

Hearing a toddler say a cuss word isn't anything new for experienced parents (though this may be the first time it was done on TV), and I, for one, found dads Cam and Mitchell's reactions quite real - in our home, we often find ourselves hiding our laughter as we utter the necessary admonishments for bad behavior.

Take a look at the clip and tell me what you thought of the episode.

Pirate Rock! Disney's Sharky and Bones Open Up About Pirate Culture, Jake, and Peter Pan

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:37:27 PST

Can you talk like a pirate? If your lil one is between 2 and 5 years old, chances are he'll know exactly what we're talking about!

Since its launch last February, Disney's Jake and the Neverland Pirates has become the top-ranking series among kids in that age group. The animated show - about a new crew of pirates who work together to outwit Captain Hook and Smee around Pirate Island - is about to embark on its second season with a prime-time special Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns (airing Feb. 13), where the little boy who won't grow up enlists the minipirates to help him find his lost shadow. As with the daily show, the special will feature original pirate rock songs written and sung by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band. I spoke with Loren Hoskins and Kevin Hendrickson, the men behind Sharky and Bones and the stars of the live-action music videos featured at the end of each episode, about the popularity of pirate culture and what it can teach tots today.

LilSugar: Obviously you two are well versed in little kids' obsessions with pirates. How did it start for you two?
Kevin Hendrickson (Bones): It started before our kids. Loren and I met maybe 12 years ago, and we both just had a love of pirates and the old Disney records we grew up listening to. We decided to make a pirate album for kids, even though we didn't have kids.
Loren Hoskins (Sharky): We were pirates before pirate was cool. We had an affinity for pirate and pirate culture and the old Disneyland rides - you know the old Pirates of the Caribbean attraction - and we combined all those into a rock album for kids of all ages. We say "for buccaneers of all ages" because we had a lot of fans that were not kids and a lot of fans that were kids and then families that were fans. We just decided to not be a children's band, but a band for all buccaneers!

LilSugar: It's been almost 60 years since Disney released Peter Pan, and unlike other Disney flicks, it hasn't received a rerelease or a 3D upgrade. Why do you think the pirate obsession remains so strong today?
Loren Hoskins (Sharky): I have always maintained that what pirates represent for play is all the best things about play. That's imagination, adventure, being bold-hearted, silly voices, and fun dress-up costumes. You put all that together and you get classic kid play. It's like pirates and dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were huge for a while, and I think for the same reason – you can just go "roaar," and play all these great games, and they were bold and adventurous and from exotic locations. Pirates are the same thing. They're one of those classic play building blocks

Keep reading for more of our talk about pirate rock and the show's educational value.

Family Movie Night! 10 Christmas Movies to Watch With the Kids

Nicole Abbott — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:22:29 PST

Baby, it's cold outside! During these chilly Winter months, 'tis the season to snuggle up with the kiddos and watch a movie. From timeless classic to new animated features, check out this selection of 10 Christmas movies the entire family is sure to enjoy!

Wee TV: 5 Must-See Holiday Episodes of Tots' Favorite Shows

Nicole Abbott — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:16:04 PST

Get ready for a holiday overload on your DVR! With Winter break quickly approaching, many mamas are already trying to figure out what they'll do to entertain the tots over the holiday stretch. Have no fear, brand-spanking-new holiday episodes of lil ones' favorite shows are here! Some of your kiddo's must-watch shows - like Yo Gabba Gabba! and Imagination Movers - have new holiday-themed episodes coming up that you won't want to miss. Set your DVR and join in on the fun with these five special episodes.

Watch This! 5 Thanksgiving Movies the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Natasha Dantzig — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:04:28 PST

Take a break from watching football and snuggle up with your tots for a Thanksgiving viewing party. Relax and digest postfeast with classic Thanksgiving movies that most parents will remember from their own childhood.

Keep reading for five Thanksgiving flicks that everyone will love - whether it's their first viewing or their 20th.

C Is For Controversy? Sesame Street's Most Eyebrow-Raising Characters

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:08:09 PDT

For more than 40 years, Sesame Street has been nearly synonymous with childhood, but that doesn't mean the beloved program has been controversy free. New puppet Lily is the latest character to get tongues wagging about the appropriateness of certain topics for tots, but she's far from the first. Since its inception, Sesame Street has pushed boundaries and tackled tough topics, some of which critics deem too tough for tots.

Keep reading for some Sesame Street characters, storylines, and guest stars who've had people talking about way more than ABCs and 123s.

Wee TV: 10 Special Halloween Episodes to Watch

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:02:37 PDT

Boo-tube! Your kiddos may already have a favorite show or character - or several - that they like to watch over and over. With Halloween fast approaching, it's time for new holiday-themed episodes to premiere featuring all of your tots' favorite characters getting spooky on the scariest night of the year! Set your DVR and join in on the fun with these 10 special Halloween episodes.

What Kate Gosselin Can Teach Us About Raising a Large Family

LilSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:31:52 PDT

For seven seasons, we've watched the famous Gosselin multiples grow up while their parents, Jon and Kate, became tabloid regulars. After a controversial season, filled with conflicts, TLC has called it quits with the Gosselins, and the Kate Plus Eight finale will air this evening. Kate has received her share of negative press over the years, but everyone has shortcomings - especially when faced with a challenge like raising eight children. While we might not agree with all of Kate's parenting techniques, her example of raising a big family, has taught us a few important lessons. Here are five:

Marriage and parenting is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Just as you tell your children not to be bossy, it's important to listen to your husband and know when to control a situation and when to let something go. Kate often struggled to give her husband control of even the smallest decisions like what the kids could wear for their daddy day out. It's always better to work together in the interest of the kids rather than your own personal preferences.
Don't shun help. Even as a stay-at-home mom, sometimes extra help is needed, even if it's for a few hours a week. All moms need a little R&R to recharge.
Expect the unexpected. Being prepared with all sorts of ammo will keep you one step ahead of the curve. Keep an emergency supply kit with extra clothing, diapers, snacks, and more in your car at all times.
Kids enjoy adventures, but they also can be easily amused by little things too. Kate once entertained the whole crew by passing around a tiny plastic shark that she found in her bedroom. The kids loved passing it quietly around to each other, and after everyone had delighted in the surprise, Kate asked them to yell what it was all at once.
No parent is perfect. Despite all the drama, the press, the split, and being on a reality TV show, Kate and Jon have raised eight intelligent, happy, normal, and pretty well behaved children. No parent is perfect, but Kate shows her love the best by providing her kids with a comfortable life, educational experiences, and college savings.

How do you feel about Kate Gosselin's parenting technique? What lessons has she taught you about parenting? And are you sad to see her go?

Guess the Celebrity Guest Stars on the New Season of Sesame Street!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:41:19 PDT

For more than four decades Sesame Street has educated and entertained tots of all ages. Joining Maria, Gordon, Elmo, and Cookie Monster have been a host of celebrity guest stars ranging from athletes and astronauts to first ladies and musicians. For the public television show's 42nd season, Sesame Street will adopt a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum and bring in a bevy of new celebrity guests to help teach tots. See if you can identify some of the show's upcoming guest stars!

Question 1 of 10

Which couple's sons will want to tune in to the show this season to see their parents help Elmo get ready for school?

Mr. Rogers' Legacy Lives On in a New Animated Series

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:32:33 PDT

It often feels like new kids' television shows are a dime a dozen, but when the Mr. Rogers name is attached to it, moms know it's worth a viewing. Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood departed PBS's regular lineup three years ago, but its legend will live on in animated form with the debut of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood in the Fall of 2012.

Fans of Mr. Rogers fondly remember the "Neighborhood of Make Believe'' where a little red trolley transported viewers to the puppet world of King Friday, Queen Sara, and Daniel Stripèd Tiger. The new series stars the 4-year-old son of the original tiger who invites tots into his neighborhood, which happens to inhabited by the preschool-aged children of all of the original series' characters. To further tie the animated series to the original, Daniel Tiger will start each episode putting on a sweater and tying his shoes, just like Fred Rogers did for 33 years. Many of the original songs will be back as well, but with a modern twist for today's lil viewers.

So tell us what you think. Did you grow up watching the original show? And are you excited for the new version?

Source: PBS Kids