Disney offers lullabies for the toddlers while the Learning Channel prepares kids for the classroom

Good news for mothers looking for help in times of need: nap time and bedtime, that is.

This week, the Disney Channel premieres Child of Mine, a musical special featuring a group of ethnically and artistically diverse female vocalists performing songs, many of them lullabies written by the performers for their children.

The singers are: Roseanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Maura O’Connell, sisters Kate and Ana McGarrigle, Gloria Estefan, Denise Williams, Carole King, Dionne Warwick and Mary-Chapin Carpenter.

The show opens with a montage of each of the women answering the question, “Where do you want to send someone when they go to sleep?”

“Child of Mine” airs Sunday, 9-10 p.m. (also Monday 5:05-6:05 a.m.) the Disney Channel. For ages 2 and up.

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Also this week is the Monday premiere of Ready, Set, Learn! a daily, three-hour commercial-free block of programs, hosted by singer-songwriter Rory, designed to engage 2- to 6-year olds in fun activities to help them prepare for school. Programs include:

Bookmice (6-6:30 a.m.) has puppetry, live action and animation, combined with songs and storytelling, to introduce children to reading books.

Join In! (6:30-7 a.m.), where three adult friends take viewers through everyday experiences, showing how to have fun while learning useful lessons through daily activities, such as how to deal with disappointment, learn patience and make new friends.

Zoobilee Zoo (7-7:30 a.m.) (the only segment of “Ready, Set, Learn!” that has previously aired elsewhere) features Ben Vereen as host.

Iris, the Happy Professor (7:30-8 a.m.) places pre-schoolers in a wacky classroom where puppet Iris reveals the extraordinary behind the ordinary: milk from cows, apples in a pie or the change of seasons.

The Magic Box (8-8:30 a.m.) highlights whole-language reading techniques. The musical show uses animated stories, songs and alphabet games to teach children to read.

Kitty Cats (8:30-9 a.m.) has puppets who sing, dance and play their way into real-life situations. The focus is on learning life lessons: making decisions, keeping a positive attitude, dealing with failure, sharing and cooperating, and learning new words.

“Ready, Set, Go!” airs Mondays through Fridays from 6-9 a.m. For ages 2 to 6. The Learning Channel.

More Family Shows

Mac and Mutley visit a retirement home for animal film stars too old for the stage and screen in an episode of Mac & Mutley (Wednesday 5-5:30, 8-8:30 p.m. Discovery). For ages 6 and up.

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The inventor of a Time Machine (Friday 1-3:15 p.m. TNT) undertakes a journey into the fourth dimension and discovers life far into the future--a world populated by two disparate groups, the placid Eloi and the brutish Morlocks. Based on the H.G. Wells classic science-fiction novel. The 1960 film is highlighted by Oscar-winning special effects. For ages 9 and up .

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The Adventures of Pete and Pete: New Year’s Eve Pete (Saturday 8:30-9 p.m. Nickelodeon), has Pete realizing he can’t change the world, but he hopes to make it better for one person: a lonely crossing guard. But can he make a difference before the clock strikes midnight? For ages 8 to 13 .