The Juice Boxx

The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon's new music group and live-action series

My DVR is my best friend, and it's best investment I've made all year. Better than a comfy pair of shoes or that $30 bottle of vitamins. Why? Because--I'm having a Miranda "Sex and the City" flashback, when she fills her relationship void with TiVO, haha--it never let's me down.

I don't watch a ton of TV, but lately I've noticed that I hardly watch a show when it actually airs because Sascha has the remote control. It's Nickelodeon and Noggin all the time. Even when she's not watching the TV, she better hear Tryone singing some "a pirate, a pirate, a pirate says 'arrrgghhh'" in the distance.

We watch Noggin because she loves it. "The Backyardigans", "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan," "Wow Wow Wubbzy," "Max and Ruby," and "Dora, the Explorer" all rule in our house. I sing their songs around the house before I sing a Beyonce song or even a commercial jingle, now you know that's some brain-washing! We draw the line at "Lazy Town." The creepy, adult male characters would rival Ru Paul at Sephora and they hang out with this little girl with a pink wig? All to promote healthy lifestyles? Gross.

But let's face it, as a parent, you have to have some tolerance for the shows your kids watch. When she was younger it was all about "Sesame Street" because I grew up on Big Bird, so why should she? But once I became a mom, I drew the line at Barney. The show, the sets, the kids, the songs, were like nails on a chalkboard to me. So no, Sascha doesn't even know who Barney is and I think she's better for it! Ha!

I know there are phases for what entertains children. For babies under one-year-old, in my opinion, is a great time for DVD's with children hearing sounds and seeing images. I especially loved the four DVD's in the "Sesame Beginnings: Beginning Together" series which feature young versions of all their favorite "Sesame Street" characters interacting with a parent, friend or other relative. Besides the characters, each series is hosted by a celebrity parent and child: Brandy and her daughter, Matt Lauer and his daughter, Sarah Jessica Parker and her niece, and Wayne Brady and his daughter. These videos were very stimulating for her and the songs also soothed my daughter at nighttime. (I wish I could get her to fall asleep to them now!) I found them more interesting and fun than the very popular "Baby Einstein" DVD's but I recommend parents view clips of different videos before purchasing. It's all about what you feel works best for your child.

Nickelodeon and Noggin are holding us down now, and their latest sensation "The Fresh Beat Band" is Sascha's latest obsession. My daughter is a music-fiend, so I love that she enjoys it, but when she asked if the tall lanky Shout was a rapper, I had to break it down to her: "He wants to be a rapper, but he's NOT a rapper." I'll still never understand why young adults make good entertainers for preschoolers (someone explain that to me!!).

I'm not looking forward to the "iCarly," "Jonas Brothers," "Zoe 101" phase. Now that's where I may have to draw the line and we might have to make a deal with that remote...

Parents? What shows do your kids watch? At which shows do you draw the line?

----Stay Juicy & tuned in!!!