That was a commercial, right? I asked myself as I passed my tweens and their grandfather watching what appeared to be “Antiques Roadshow” on TV.

“Have you ever seen ‘Antiques Roadshow’?” my father-in-law asked me after I stopped in my tracks to determine whether my sons, Nicholas, 11, and Christopher, 9, were really watching a television program dedicated to assessing the value of such items as vintage purses and antique clocks.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied reluctantly, staring at the TV in our vacation rental house. My tweens shushed me. After all, the Civil War belt buckle was up next.

Thanks to their grandparents, my boys watch TV shows that aren’t exactly the usual Disney-esque fare for tweens. How many children do you think are watching “Jeopardy” or “Wheel of Fortune”? Judging by the commercials for Polident, not many. And that’s exactly why I love it.

My in-laws have created the return of the TV Family Hour by introducing my kids to thoughtful programming that appeals to grown-ups and kids alike. Maybe that’s why these shows have been on the air since I was a tween. They’re fun for the whole family. I mean, really: Who doesn’t want to find out that the toy robot from the 1960’s is worth nearly two grand?

In a few weeks, my children are going to visit their grandparents for a few days. I hope they get a chance to catch up on their favorite loved-by-septuagenarians shows. If nothing else, they keep me from getting old worrying about what my kids are watching on TV.

– Posted by Jen Singer

Filed under Tweens

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