One of the very first shows my kids really loved—once they were past the mindless toddler joy at anything bright and/or musical—was Arthur. He’s just a regular kid, in a regular school, with regular problems. If you overlook the whole thing where he’s an anteater without an anteater nose (really, I never quite understood that part of it…), he’s pretty much Everykid. He’s utterly relatable.

So I’m completely loving this: From February 1st to March 31st, your child (aged 6-12) can go visit the Arthur / All Kids Can Character Search site and submit their ideas for a new character to join the cast of Arthur. Isn’t that awesome? Check it out:

Calling all ARTHUR fans! Do you have an idea for a new friend for Arthur, D.W. or Buster? Well, here’s your chance to create a character for Elwood City. ARTHUR, the award-winning PBS KIDS GO! television series, and CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program dedicated to making life easier for kids with disabilities, are teaming up to announce the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search”!

Beginning February 1, 2009, the “ARTHUR/All Kids Can Character Search” invites children ages 6-12 to send in their ideas for a new character for Arthur. And not just any character–one who can show that having a unique ability, character trait, or disability might make life a little bit different, but not any less fun. Kids can mail in their entries, with a drawing of their character and a description of what makes them special, starting February 1, 2009. The child with the selected idea, along with their character, will be featured in a live-action segment on the ARTHUR show. In addition, he or she will receive a visit from ARTHUR creator and author Marc Brown at the child’s school, local library, or PBS member station.

I love this. How better to help kids learn about inclusion than to let them be a part of this process? Arthur continues to delight me. So get your kids to put on their thinking caps, and good luck!

Regardless of your political leanings, I think it’s impossible not to feel the excitement as we get ready for the Presidential Inauguration happening tomorrow. It’s a historic time in our country’s history, and kids have been fired up about this election in a way we’ve never seen before.

Whether it was the Nickelodeon Kids Pick the President campaign or a special election-themed WordGirl, kids have been seeing election buzz for months, now. And this week, it all comes together as President Obama is sworn into office. And Nickelodeon is ready—they’re planning their first coverage of the Presidential Inauguration:

Nickelodeon, in another first, will feature coverage of the historic presidential inauguration starting Monday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. ET/PT. KPP Election Connection Team correspondents — Lily Collins, JJ and Pick Boy — will report on the political celebration from Washington, D.C. in a series of pre-taped interstitials highlighting the historic Inauguration Day and the celebrations leading up to it.

Additionally, on Inauguration Day — Tuesday, Jan. 20 — at 8 p.m., vignettes featuring footage of the President-Elect’s Oath of Office, will air on Nickelodeon, The N and Nicktoons Networks. Interstitials will continue to air on Nickelodeon through Jan. 31 and will highlight the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue; President-Elect Obama’s arrival at the White House; his inauguration speech; and more.

What a savvy move by Nick, both to keep kids interested in the world around them and to ride the current political wave. This is smart children’s programming at its finest.