Hey Dora, leave my kids alone.
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I’m so tired of obnoxious cartoon children breaking the fourth wall to ask my kids questions as a weak attempt at educational television. Do any kids answer? Can TV zombies even talk?
Saying my kids can only watch educational TV is like saying I only let my kids eat organic potato chips.
I don’t expect my kids to learn from TV. TV is not (despite what Noggin wants us to believe) preschool. I don’t think shows have to teach my kids anything. In fact, I think there is something nice about a show that doesn’t teach anything or have any message.
This Juicebox Jungle clip talks a lot about the TV vs. no TV debate, but really, how could I deny my kids TV? I enjoy it and to tell them they can’t watch it but I can wouldn’t be right. It would be like telling them they can’t have sweets while I eat a bowl of ice cream.
In fact, non-educational TV has provided lots of great discussion starting points for me and my children. Josie and the Pussycats: don’t be mean to your friends. Commercials: don’t believe everything you see on TV. Scooby-Doo: being brave can mean doing something you’re scared to do. Tom and Jerry: well, nothing, but it does crack them up. I don’t expect my kids to learn from these shows (that’s what family and school are for), but those are some good life lessons.
What, when, how much? That’s a personal decision for each parent. But let’s not delude ourselves here. TV is entertainment.
And to paraphrase Cookie Monster: TV is a sometimes food.
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