How Curious George Helps me as a Parent

One of the few shows that can hold my toddlers attention is Curious George. Trust me; this is quite a feat for my very active Dart. A few months ago books started to hold his attention more, but you had to changes pages very quickly. Then we stumbled across Curious George. Even now he’ll watch some other shows like ‘The Fresh Beat Band’ (that’s for the music) and a truck show, Lights favorites. Even then he usually needs something in front of him for when he gets bored. But nothing compares to George, he’ll sit anywhere and it’s comical to see the gaze change and the slack jaw. Such alien sights to see from my child. Although he’s never in complete ‘zombie mode’ he’s very calm. He still looks up at me to laugh or point and or course say “oooh, ahhh” like a little monkey.

Every time he sees the face of that curious little monkey he’s all grins and monkey noises. I love it. Honestly I can’t lie it’s nice to have some calm. While I don’t really like using an electronic babysitter I do enjoy clean dishes and a swept floor without correcting him a million times or without someone screaming or breaking something.

It’s an educational show so I feel comfortable with it and the original books are such a joy. Light has seen all the episodes so much he’s sick of them but he’s practically memorized them, which is a great skill. He also enjoys the counting they do on the show.

Of course I watch them with them. Light and I can talk about the problem George is solving. But also I get to listen to the shows. The Man in the Yellow Hat never yells or gets angry. Sure you can tell there is some frustration but I can’t blame him. He’s so patient. Of course on most preschool shows parents are nearly perfect. But I don’t think The Man in the Yellow Hat is. He struggles with understanding George and often he leaves him unattended. Seriously with all the shenanigans this little monkey gets into I would get a babysitter or something. Still he is patient and lovely which is all a little monkey can ask for, right?

What I love most about the show is the narration. Often the narrator explain how hard it is to be a little monkey and so curious. How he doesn't mean to make trouble and easily he forgets. Sound like a kid, definitely. As time progressed I found this voice in my head reasoning my children actions out.

Dart throw food on the floor. Narrator explains; ‘It’s hard for a little guy to keep food next to him that he really does want. Pushing it away seemed like the best idea but he didn't think about the mess it would make and he forgot that Mommy had told him not to.’

After the zillionth time telling Light to wash his hand after using the bathroom. Narrator voice explains; ‘Playing with toys is so very excite especially when building firetrucks. Taking time to use the bathroom was hard enough but the urge was not going let him forget. However, forgetting to wash hands was much easier to do.’

I hope this doesn't sound too crazy to have a voice in my head. But overall it’s good to take time and think from a child’s perspective and Curious George reminded me of that. Every book starts with explain how George is a very good little monkey but very curious. Without a doubt children are the most curious people out there. Often we get frustrated and don’t understand why they do what they do when it seems to make no sense. Next time I’ll be sure take a breather and think about George. A very good, very curious little monkey, very, very much like my own two little monkeys.