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Educational television programs are not the only programs our children learn from.May 30 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Television can be a wonderful educational tool, though all too often, it is nothing more than a babysitter. Television can be a wonderful educational tool, though all too often it is nothing more than a babysitter. Too many people turn their children loose and allow them to watch endless hours of television with no supervision whatsoever. It's really too bad since these days many of the television shows on prime time TV are, in my opinion, inappropriate for our children to watch. Educational television programs are not the only programs our children learn from. Additionally, they learn many things (good and bad) from other programs that are watched in the home. Personally I am not a big fan of television, although there are many programs available which can teach children valuable life lessons. Unfortunately, there are many other programs which do just the opposite. With all of the sex, violence, and adult themes available to anyone capable of turning on the television set, it is no wonder that such things run rampant in our society. I won't go so far as to blame these things entirely on television programming though, since the parents should play a part in deciding what shows are appropriate for their own children. There used to be a lot more quality programing on national television than what is available today. In the past, adult situations and themes were not available until after prime time when most children were already in bed. Now we can watch highly suggestive programing any time of day, and unfortunately, so can our children if they are allowed to do so. So now you are probably wondering if I have anything good to say about television. The answer to this is yes. There are many programs available which are appropriate for children. The key to this is to be aware of what your children are watching. If your children will be watching television, I suggest that you supervise their viewing closely. I have also made a few suggestions for age appropriate programming. The suggested ages can vary depending on your children. Some suggested viewing for toddlers and preschool age children: Sesame Street helps children learn many things including letters, numbers, and much more. Mister Rogers Zoboomafoo is a wonderful program for young children. It teaches them many things about animals and nature. Arthur will teach your children many of life's lessons. The characters display good manners, and teach many moral lessons to children. Although sometimes the characters may do things they shouldn't, they always come to regret any wrongdoing and make things right again. Between the Lions is a fun and entertaining way for children to learn about reading. They use puppets, and teach things like phonics. What a great show for children. Some suggested viewing for elementary students: Reading Rainbow is a great way for children to be encouraged to read. What a wonderful way to instill the love of books in your children. Bill Nye the Science Guy combines science and comedy for a wonderful learning experience. This show has taught my children many things, and even taught me a thing or two along the way. Some suggested viewing for teens: The Wonder Years provides an entertaining look at many issues of life. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, this series is great entertainment for the whole family. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch looks at many teen issues in a humorous way, without showing any offensive material. This show is suitable for any age and can be rather entertaining, especially teens and young adults. In addition to the particular programs they watch, you should also set limits to the amount of television they are allowed to watch. They need to get out and do something besides sit in front of a television set all day. This is a very unhealthy habit to get into, and should be discouraged from the beginning to avoid growing a crop of couch potatoes once they reach adulthood.  |
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