NI HAO!

As limited as her television experience is, my 22 month old daughter, Aidy, knows what "Calliou", "Blue's Clues", and "Dora" are. I have gradually learned to be "ok" with these shows. They each have their merits and are somewhat educational in moderation.

There is one program that I encourage her to watch, and even will watch with her:

"Ni Hao, Kai-Lan"

I love this cartoon. It helps teach children emotional intelligence and empathy for others; something I feel is very lacking in current society. It is great for toddlers as it helps associate words with feelings. Plus Kai-Lan is SUPER CUTE. And the voices are mostly done by KIDS!

I don't mind the theme song stuck in my head as often as it is, and Aidy loves it when I just randomnly start singing it. I really think this show is the best show on TV for kiddos.

Example: At the zoo a few weeks ago, Aidynn and I were standing in front of the Giant Anteater exhibit when a little boy a bit older than she is walked up to the glass and stood with us. My Aidy (having no concept of personal boundaries and space) turned to him, eyes wide, and said "Ni Hao!", and gave him a huge bear hug! He was surprised at first, but then hugged her in return. It truly was a sweet sight. As he walked away he smiled and waved, and she yelled out, "Xie Xie" (Thank you) in Mandarin Chinese. From the look on his face, he clearly had NO idea what she was saying to him. Unsurprisingly... as he was Japanese-American, but I think you get the picture.

In case you are interested for your little ones, the show was added to the Nick Jr line up in February of 2009. If you have Comcast, it is available free on In Demand.

^_^