"La la la la la la..." The classic cartoon characters that once defined Saturday morning cartoons will be coming to the big screen in a new live action/animated film. The release date for the smurfy new film is set for December 17, 2010, and can you imagine...did you ever think that one day, you could be watching the Smurfs on the big screen in 3D? The new film will be directed by Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Scooby-Doo), and produced by Jordan Kerner (Charlotte's Web, George of the Jungle). Here's to a blue Christmas in 2010!

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, the sequel to Disney's popular TV movie Camp Rock, is set to begin production this summer and air next year. The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and others will return for The Final Jam, along with newcomers Matthew "Mdot" Finley and Chloe Bridges. In the new movie, Camp Rockers are stunned to learn of the opening of Camp Star, a state-of-the-art rival music camp which has attracted many of the campers and instructors who used to be at Camp Rock. When Camp Star challenges Camp Rock to the ultimate music showdown, Camp Rockers get ready to prove their musical superiority. The highly anticipated sequel takes on a familiar "Romeo and Juliet" theme when Nate (Nick Jonas) falls for Dana (Chloe Bridges), the daughter of the owner of Camp Star.

(Photo from Camp Rock, © Disney.)

Do your kids ever watch episodes of their favorite TV shows online? A new bill in Congress, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009, seeks to make it mandatory for channels like Disney and Nickelodeon (among others) to provide closed caption online. The goal of the bill? -- making the Internet more accessible to the hearing impaired. Now that the Internet has become such and integral part of life, it is important that the medium is as accessible as possible. If you would like to get involved in the cause, Jamie Berke, our About.com guide to deafness, is leading a grassroots effort to get the bill passed.

Like most parents, I set strict limits on my kids' TV watching. But if they're sick, all of that is out the window! If they're really sick, they can watch it all day if they want to. I remember doing that as a kid, and it was the only thing that really took my mind off of how miserable I felt.

Well, next week my daughter is getting her tonsils out. I am really nervous about the recovery period, so I've already ordered her a bunch of new books, I've made a list of foods to get at the store so we can be prepared for when we get home, and now I'm trying to figure out what movies to have at the ready. She's six, so of course she adores the princess movies and Tinkerbell, but I'm thinking I need to find something really new and exciting. Being the daughter of a mom who writes about kids' movies, she has seen most of what is already out, so I think I may have to go old school. My thoughts so far are Annie, Swiss Family Robinson, and Pollyanna. Do those bring back any memories?

What do your kids love to watch or do when they don't feel well?

Kids can learn as they celebrate this week with movies, books and crafts that focus on the 4th of July and the founding of our nation. Great patriotic DVDs like Patrick Henry and Paul Revere from History's Heroes focus on the founding of America and are both fun and educational for kids. Other movies like Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, which is an amazing movie set in the time of the Great Depression, help kids understand a little about different times in American history.

More ways to celebrate:

• Children's Books that Celebrate America
• Heroes, Symbols and Stories of the USA
• Independence Day Crafts

(Photo © The American Animation Studios)

Princess Protection Program was the third biggest debut out of the 76 Disney Channel Original Movies that have ever aired. 8.5 million viewers is pretty darn good, but I bet Disney is disappointed that the numbers didn't surpass last year's Camp Rock. For fans who missed the movie, or those who can't wait to watch it over and over again, Disney will release the Princess Protection Program BFF Extended Edition DVD this Tuesday. I think this is the fastest that they've ever released a DVD after the original movie air date.

(Photo © Disney)

I remember when the show Supernanny had just started. We watched a couple of episodes, and it didn't bother us if the kids were running around and happened to stay and watch a little of the show. We would just talk to them about any bad behavior they saw from the kids on TV, and since the behavior was cast in an unpleasant light, it almost seemed like our kids would try to act better just to show they weren't like the kids being naughty on TV.

We never got into the show Jon and Kate Plus 8, but it's hard to miss the updates all over TV and the Internet now that the couple is reportedly breaking up. Many of the blogs and articles wonder, and rightfully so, how the divorce and life in the spotlight will affect the Gosselin children. But, I also wonder how the show will affect viewing kids. Many families have followed the show together. Are the Gosselin's intimate family problems too much for viewing kids to take, or does the show offer an opportunity for productive family discussions?

What about kids who have suffered through their own parents' divorce? Is it devastating or enlightening to watch the TV family and view firsthand the parents' struggles in raising their kids together?

Reality TV is definitely a genre that has positives and negatives. The messages conveyed in reality series carry a different kind of weight, since what is being portrayed is supposedly "real life" or "true." The perspective means that we may need to be even more diligent in making an informed decision whether or not to let kids watch, and in discussing the issues the show brings out as a family in order to ensure kids get the right message. I know I've said this before, but it is so true, we never know what assumptions our kids are making about the world when they see things on TV. The situations being portrayed may seem so obvious and logical to us, but kids can come to some pretty interesting conclusions at times. Even reality TV shows can be turned into a positive experience, though, if a good family discussion ensues.

I know it sounds crazy to let your kid watch TV in order to prepare for school, but research has shown that preschoolers' shows are effective at teaching basic skills. If kids are going to watch a little TV anyway, why not make it productive? TV can never be a substitute for play time or hands-on learning, but programs like Sesame Street and Super Why! can reinforce what your child is learning in preschool or at home, so a limited amount of TV time can be a good thing.

Kindergarten readiness is a topic that I am passionate about. My oldest child just graduated from KG, and watching her and the other kids progress over the year was so amazing. There was definitely a gap, though, between those kids who came in knowing the basics, and those who had to struggle to grasp all of the new material. While there is more to being prepared for kindergarten than just knowing the ABCs, a little foundational knowledge certainly doesn't hurt.

If you are using summer's lazy days (Ha! We wish, right?) to help your child get ready for kindergarten, you can chose programs that will help solidify the concepts you are teaching. Whether it's math, letters, reading or science, shows for preschoolers cover a variety of subjects. You can also get DVDs that focus on helping kids learn the alphabet and early reading skills.

Here are some more kindergarten related ideas and resources from around About:

• Kindergarten Readiness
• School Success Made Easy
• Preschool Skill Building - Quick Tips
• Skills Kids Need for Kindergarten

We all know that it's no good for kids to watch violence on TV, but what about violence that occurs in nature? A wonderful new series, Nature's Most Amazing Events, has just been released this week on DVD and Blu-ray. The episodes in the series depict immense natural events that occur in different areas of the world and profoundly affect wildlife over the globe. The structure is brilliant, and the images are truly amazing. But, there are a few scenes that show animals hunting and eating other animals, and other animals fighting for dominance. Some blood and gore is shown.

We decided to watch the series with our 4 and 6-year-olds, and despite a few "Eeew gross!" or worried, "That's so sad!" moments, they absolutely loved it. I was afraid they might freak out over a couple of scenes (like when a baby elephant gets taken down and feasted upon by a pack of lions), but they accepted the realities and moved on.

The BBC programs related to Earth have always done a good job at showing both sides of the story, so it's hard to decide who to root for -- the starving predator or the vulnerable prey? The conundrum sets the foundation for a great family discussion. My daughters love seals, but they don't want the polar bears to die. We had to explain to them about food chains, life cycles, survival mechanisms and on and on. Not only that, but the incredible filming techniques and high-def images left us all in awe of nature, and of the film crew.

(Photo © BBC Worldwide)

How about a FREE concert for the kids? The Jumpitz, a diverse group of musical performers who provide educational media content and live performances for kids, have announced a virtual concert series airing Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 19th-21st at secretbuilders.com. The Jumpitz virtual concerts will go live at 8:00am, 3:00pm and 11:59pm PST. Live action will meet virtual reality as Jumpitz Emily, Jake, Josh, and Mari “Jump In and Discover the World” of SecretBuilders, and kids can even chat with the cast after the show.

True, watching a concert online is not the same as being there, but the medium does provide a level of interactivity that is not available watching TV. It will be interesting to see how kids react to the live virtual experience. Given that many preschoolers already enjoy the online arena, I think that The Jumpitz' new endeavor has the potential to be very exciting for kids, and the great thing is, it will also be uplifting and educational.

The Jumpitz focus on educational content that helps kids learn about the world around them. The group recently released a DVD called Celebrate Animals, and they have live performances scheduled at Legoland and other locations. To find out more about the DVDs, tours, and online concerts, visit The Jumpitz interactive, kid safe website.

(Photo ©: The Jumpitz)