Canada has a stellar reputation in the area of children's television programming and production, particularly in the field of animation. The Canadian government has actively encouraged homegrown TV production since it created the Canadian Broadcast Program Development Fund in 1983. At that time, 85 percent of Canada's primetime programs were foreign made.

Quality Programming for Kids
Canadian networks are required to air a certain amount of domestic programming (60 percent on average) in order to make sure that Canadian children have a sense of their own culture. Ongoing government subsidies have allowed independent Canadian production companies to thrive. Not only do they produce content for Canadian stations, companies such as Nelvana and Cinar, which have produced such hits as Wimzie's House, Babar, Caillou and Zaboomafoo, have deals with PBS to supply them with children's series for their children's block programming.

Children's television in Canada has a long history of providing a gentler alternative to some of the over-the-top programs being shown elsewhere. Classic programs like Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant allowed children to indulge in a more interactive experience with program hosts, who made a personal connection with their young viewers.

April Almeida of Hamilton, Ontario is very selective about the TV programs that she allows her 2 1/2-year-old daughter to watch. "I refuse to let her see violence or the news. I want her to see fun, educational programs that teach her about good habits, manners, love for fellow humans and kindness," she says. Her daughter's favourite Canadian station is Treehouse TV.

Treehouse TV is unique in that it is the only national, specialty network in North America that is solely dedicated to preschoolers age 6 years and under. Commercial-free programming is offered from 6 a.m. until 3 a.m. each day. Treehouse TV has launched three original series: Ants in Your Pants, which is a music show featuring Canadian performers; Crazy Quilt, a program that features storytelling and easy craft-making; and Wee 3, a show that's about three young, tiny monsters who examine their fears and feelings through signing and playing out scenarios.

Treehouse TV offers a variety of high-quality children's programming from Canada and around the world. They have chosen programs that are in tune with the interests and developmental levels of the preschool age group such as Bob the Builder, Blue's Clues and Bear in the Big Blue House.

Three new Treehouse programs that will begin this fall are: The Berenstain Bears (based on the popular book series), Max and Ruby and Tipi Tales, all of which are produced in Canada.

Ann Hildreth of Millbrook, Ontario, looks at overall programming and advertising when deciding on the programs that her children, Daniel, 9, and Liam, 2, should watch. "Children are exposed to marketing in this world soon enough and ads, whether they be for toys, Disneyland, future TV shows or Tampax, are not necessary," she says.

TVO kids, which is produced by TVOntario, is a favourite in her house in part because of their mandate to provide educational, commercial-free, nonviolent programming for children. TVOntario's mission is to support lifelong learning, and to that end, their programming is linked to the Ontario educational system. In fact, the morning programming block known as The Nook, is actually based on Ontario's kindergarten curriculum, according to Gisele Corinthios, The Nook's spirited host.

The Host With the Most
Phil McCordic, who co-hosts the afternoon block, The Crawl Space, explains that Canadian commercial lengths are shorter than those in the States, so interstitial-hosted children's programming is a Canadian phenomenon. "We have no commercials and lots of time to fill," he says, referring to the setup on TVO kids.

One of the things that Hildreth appreciates about TVO kids is how friendly and chatty the hosts are. Patty Sullivan, the other host of The Crawl Space, points out that the segments in between programs are purposely interactive to give kids a chance to connect with the hosts, who often speak to kids on air, show their drawings and act on suggestions of children and their families. All TVO Kids hosts use their real names on the air. "We want to be people they can trust and look up to and not think I'm watching an actor," says Sullivan. "We talk to them directly, and that is a lot of responsibility, and we accept that whole-heartedly," adds McCordic.

The popular hosts also tour around Ontario and put on interactive stage performances across the province. The program is culturally relevant because it is pro-Canada, according to hosts. They discuss Canadian history and geography and do things like celebrating Canada Day on air and discussing Canadian writers, inventors and sports teams, providing Canadian children with an opportunity to hear about information that is nationally relevant to them.

TVO Kids educates youngsters about the importance of things like reading and nutrition through a series of five-minute segments called Reading Rangers and The Bod Squad, respectively. Through the use of humour, the enthusiastic hosts play characters that help to make reading books and eating healthy, fun.

Something Old and Something New
A new program that TVO is co-producing is a Canadian take on the reality TV phenomenon called SWAP TV. This program will allow kids to explore new ways of Canadian life by switching lives with someone else.

Also, the classic Canadian high school quiz show, Reach for the Top, will be revived in the fall, hosted by former TVO Kids host, Joe Motiki.

CBC Television is starting a new programming block on weekday mornings for children ages 2 to 5 that will be called Get Set for Life. There will be two new hosts, Alyson Court, who is known for her role as the clown Loonette on The Big Comfy Couch, and Michael Clarke, a musician and actor. Through the use of a state-of-the-art virtual set, Court and Clarke will be able use fantasy and play to help preschoolers explore the world around them.

For kids from preschool age to teenagers, Teletoon, Canada's specialty channel that is totally dedicated to animation, offers 24-hour programming, 12 hours of which is guaranteed to be suitable for unsupervised viewing (violence free) while the preschool block is commercial free.

Finally, another option for Canadian kids is YTV, Canada's leading youth network, which is seen in more than eight million homes. YTV Jr. broadcasts 40 hours of commercial-free programming per week for preschoolers, and they have Canada's No. 1 after-school block with programs such as the messy game show, Hugo. YTV is committed to the Canadian television production industry with more than 70 percent of their prime time schedule dedicated to Canadian shows.

With a government so heavily invested in the promotion of Canadian culture, it is nice to know that Canadian children will always have the option of watching quality television programming with which they can identify.

For more information and fun activities for kids that ties in with on-air programming, check out these Web sites:

• TVOKids
• Teletoon
• YTV

Want to see more?

• Too Much TV? Setting Limits on Television Viewing
• Turn on the Fun Without Turning on the TV
• Television and Your Toddler
• Talk about it!