Kids love television, and while some parents may be a little bit cautious of letting children watch too much TV, there are a wealth of programmes which could actually help your child out when it comes to educational development. This guest post explains more.
While you still get cartoons and the like which don’t really teach kids much, there are still plenty of shows out there that help children to engage with the cornerstones of learning. Lessons which are taught by such programmes can come in very useful, both at school and in their day-to-day lives.
To really whittle it down, we’ve compiled a list of the top three programmes which are well worth getting your kids to watch if they must sit in front of the TV while you’re getting on with other things.
1. Sesame Street
An oldie but a real goodie, Sesame Street has been on the screen since way back in 1966. Conceived after producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morriset wanted to make a show which would “master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them,” you can be sure that this is a safe bet.
Designed to hold the attention of children while teaching them important lessons, the show’s success is largely thanks to the work of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. The hosts are ethnically diverse, all the characters are bright and colourful and key messages are conveyed with songs and cute sketches.
Today, it’s more popular than ever and enjoys a cult following thanks to characters such as the Cookie Monster and Big Bird.
2. Blue’s Clues
One for younger children, Blue’s Clues ran for just over ten years and still enjoys regular airtime slots on Nick Jr. The story is simple – the host of the show gives the viewing audience a puzzle, for which the dog Blue will leave clues behind.
It’s then up to the host, with the help of the children viewing, to solve the puzzle.
One of the best things about this show is that it encourages children to interact with what is happening on screen. Plenty of studies have been conducted proving that repeat viewings of Blues Clue’s work to increase a child’s attention and enhance their capacity for logical thinking.
3. Arthur
Created back in 1996, this children’s cartoon is still going strong, focussing on the interactions between family and friends and the basics of a good moral and ethical standing. The show is mainly targeted at children and pre-teens.
The story focuses on Arthur, an anthropomorphic aardvark dealing with the ups and downs of family life. Some hard-hitting issues which are dealt with very well on the show include asthma, cancer, Asperger syndrome and dyslexia.
While it may be a little too complicated for very young children, it’s certainly worth a watch.
Guest Post
