Of, by and for the Children : The good, the bad and the awkwardness of being adolescent is ‘Fifteen’

Here’s a rule of thumb for high school students: Anyone who says your teen years are supposed to be the best of your life is probably too old to know better. Adults remember the parties and the prom, but they sometimes forget there’s a lot more to adolescence, some of it a major drag.

The new series Fifteen dramatizes these ups and downs by focusing on a group of friends at the fictional Hillside Junior High School and their experiences in romantic, academic and parental situations. While the show-Nickelodeon’s first continuing drama-might tackle some pretty serious situations, it does so with a light touch, to make viewers laugh even if they feel like crying.

“Fifteen,” Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (premiere only); regular schedule: Sundays at 1 and 5 p.m. Nickelodeon. For 13- to 17-year-olds.

MORE KIDSU SHOWS

Perky Pollyanna (Sunday at 2 p.m. KTTV) spreads cheer throughout her dreary little town in the classic 1960 Disney movie starring Hayley Mills. For all ages.

It’s a jungle out there-at least it is if you were raised by wolves. That’s exactly what happens in The Jungle Book (Sunday at 11:15 a.m. TNT), the 1942 live-action film version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic IAfterward, the animated 1001 Arabian Nights (1:45 p.m. TNT) features the voice of Mr. Magoo (Jim Backus). For all ages.

No, Mighty Moose and the -uarterback Kid (Monday at 3 p.m. and 4:35 a.m. Showtime) is not about an antlered superhero. It’s a father-son story about what happens when a pro football player coaches his son’s team. For ages 9 and up.

Lifetime’s informative series What Every Baby Knows (Monday through Saturday at 9 a.m.), hosted by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and now in its fifth season, focuses on the needs and problems of children up to 3. This season includes the personal experiences of 12 real families. For parents.

Consider Walt Disney Presents From Aesop to Hans Christian Anderson (Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. the Disney Channel) a sort of animated Cliff’s Notes for fables and fairytales. A tribute to the classic storytellers who teach wisdom and understanding in an entertaining manner, the special features versions of Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the Brothers Grimm’s “The Brave Little Tailor” and Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Ugly Duckling.” For all ages.

In an animated version of Treasure Island (Saturday at 2 p.m. Nickelodeon), young Jim Hawkins happens on a dusty old treasure map and sets forth to find his fortune and outwit the infamous one-legged pirate Long John Silver. For 6- to 12-year-olds.

Pardon Me for Living (Saturday at 3 p.m. Nickelodeon) concerns the misunderstood and unpopular Emily, who is persuaded to circulate an anti-geography petition supported by her classmates but infuriating to her teachers. When her student partner in crime deserts her, Emily learns to stand up for herself and wins friends and admiration. For 6- to 12-year-olds.

Also in the brainy and misunderstood category is Arlo, the human hero of Frog (Saturday at 6 p.m. the Disney Channel), who gets social help from his school science project-a wisecracking amphibian. For 6- to 15-year-olds.

Two animated films-The Care Bears Movie (Saturday at 10 a.m. the Disney Channel; for 2- to 6-year-olds) and Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear (Saturday at 7 p.m. the Disney Channel; for all ages)-promise to make the weekend warm, fuzzy and infinitely bearable.

The two kids in the 1975 Disney adventure Escape to Witch Mountain (Saturday at 6 p.m. KTLA) try to discover why they have mysterious psychic powers. A bad guy (Ray Milland) wants to know, too. For ages 6 and up.