My son’s favorite show in the whole world is “The Little Einsteins”. He will sit in rapt attention from the opening song to the finishing credits and then ask to watch it again. All I can say is thank goodness for DVR and all the episodes that are already out on DVD. As a work at home mother, what I like about the show is not only does it entertain my three feet of fun so I can squeeze bits of work in while he watches, but it includes him by asking for audience participation and teaches children about music, art, counting, colors, patterns, and problem solving in a fun and creative way.

The Little Einsteins is a children’s cartoon shown on Disney Channel during their Playhouse Disney (a series of shows blocked together geared towards preschool-aged children) time slot. It’s about four children who each have a different special talent — Leo (conductor), Annie (singer), Quincy (musician), and June (dancer) — and they use that talent to problem solve different situations and to help different characters with their problems. Each episode focuses on a couple different pieces of artwork, anything from paint on canvas to Navajo basket weaving, and music by a classical composer — Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, among others. These are always introduced at the beginning of the episode with the artist and composer name given with the art. The music always is incorporated throughout the episode while the art serves as backdrops to the action that’s happening.

In an era of mindless cartoon violence with no real lessons or values taught, it’s nice to have a children’s show that tries something a little different to engage kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love Saturday morning cartoons as much as the next person and I let my son watch what he wants that is age appropriate, but it truly gives me a kick when he walks around humming Swan Lake and knows that Tchaikovsky was the composer.