Do you remember waking up on Saturday and getting to turn on the tv and watch cartoons all morning? My husband and I do. We loved growing up watching those Saturday cartoons in the early 90s. When our oldest was a few years old, we didn’t have cable or broadcast tv in our apartment. But even if we did, we realized that there wasn’t anything for kids on Saturdays like we had had. We were so sad that our kids wouldn’t have that growing up, that my husband decided that he was going to curate Cartoon Saturday for our kids himself. That’s what happens when you’re married to someone who draws cartoons for a living.
When we got married, my husband had an animated DVD collection that I have never seen matched – from Animaniacs to the classic Looney Tunes Collection – which I appreciated as someone who had studied film in college. For our own Cartoon Saturdays, my husband decided on shows to watch an episode of each Saturday morning and has kept a checklist to know where they are in each series. We started watching very early cartoons which have much more relaxed pacing than today’s cartoons. Our kids have enjoyed Popeye and Superman. We recently acquired DVD collections for The Jetsons and The Flintstones which I am certain will be added to the rotation soon.
Sitting with their dad and watching cartoons on Saturday mornings has become a highlight of our children’s week. They excitedly ask at bedtime, “How many more days until Cartoon Saturday?” When they wake up on Saturdays, our boys tip-toe into our bedroom and walk over to their dad’s side of the bed (the one time they don’t come to me first) and whisper, “Dad, is it time for Cartoon Saturday?” I serve up a cup of juice and breakfast snack while they watch cartoons and we have a bigger breakfast later.
It’s been several years now of Cartoon Saturdays. Nowadays, we much more enjoy the older cartoons over what is on tv today. Our kids are currently enjoying the original Pokemon and Scooby Doo. Once they have watched their episodes according to their dad’s checklist for the week, the tv goes off for the day. It’s been a wonderful part of our week. I am so glad my husband started it all of those years ago.
If you want to start a Cartoon Saturday with your kids you can start now! Pick up a few DVDs of your favorite cartoons and download the below printable to track your own Cartoon Saturdays.
