Animal Jam (Discovery Kids)

ANIMAL JAM, which usually airs first thing in the morning, is a high-energy, hoof-tapping, paw-clapping, tail-wagging dance show for the preschool crowd. Based out of their TV-studio set, the show's zoo-animal puppet hosts are vibrant, exotic, and even a little nutty. They make the show highly interactive by speaking directly to viewers, encouraging little ones to bop along and "bust some moves." Real-life kids can be seen in the background performing alongside the puppets, modeling the dance moves for kids at home. And at the end of every show, the hosts ask viewers to recall and combine all the moves they learned so they can participate in the final dance party -- complete with confetti, balloons, and even a break-dancing elephant.

Animal Jam's pop culture-infused style aims to be both hip and fun; the puppet hosts' style isn't all that different from that of their MTV VJ contemporaries. Even though preschoolers are the target audience, the puppets use cool lingo that may not make sense to the younger set. So, while Animal Jam does base many of its skits and songs around preschoolers' social and cognitive development, the combination of slang, catchy tunes, and zany dance moves at times seems to override this effort.

If your child tends to wake up with tons of energy, Animal Jam could be a great way to start the day. But kids who take a while to get going will probably want to start with something calmer. Nonetheless, this program does have its place in children's television because it encourages exercise, physical play, and body coordination. All in all, Animal Jam is a zany dance party where preschoolers can dance their morning away.