Kindergarten (HBO Family)

KINDERGARTEN follows 23 diverse kids as they go about their day in a real-life kindergarten classroom. For kids watching at home, each episode offers a letter ("F"), a related theme (ex. firefighters), and a little education about both. The latter takes the form of very short cartoon intros to different sections of the TV kids' day and segments in which viewers listen to the teacher and students interact. In between, the kids themselves address the camera to discuss what they liked about the last thing they did or what they know about an upcoming topic. Not surprisingly, these moments can be inaccurate or even a little confusing to children watching at home, although probably no more so than any conversation with another child.

Kindergarten is meant to appeal to both kids -- with its Sesame Street-esque "real kids" feel -- and to parents, offering a peek at the life of a kindergarten classroom once the doors close on Mom and Dad. Kids, especially those around kindergarten age, will find it fascinating. They want to know all about these other children.

For parents, the show is less successful. The producers refrain from creating the kind of ongoing stories and characters that are typically built into adult reality programs (even those about kids), and the result is a little boring. But it's a nice show to sit down and watch with your child, especially as he or she enters school, and it could create lots of opportunity for discussion about classrooms, kids, and teachers.

TV Rating: TV-Y
Network: HBO Family
Cast: Buzz Ostrowsky, Mary Ann Matheson, Oliver Simon
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: HBO Family