Keeping your kids active and busy on a daily basis not only keeps them healthy but exposes them to rich new life experiences they can't always get from sitting in front of a television. But, let's all admit it: we get tired and worn out from running after our little ones all day long and at some point need a break. Turning on the TV for your children can be a welcome diversion, but the channels you tune into and the shows you allow them to watch can make a difference in their educational lives.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours per day of screen time for children, with no TV at all for toddlers and babies under the age of two. That said, it's helpful to be knowledgeable in what's out there in terms of quality, tried-and-true programming, so that when you are forced to turn the boob tube on while you make dinner, you can rest easy knowing you're making good choices.
The History of Public Broadcasting
As parents, we grew up watching broadcast television -- sort of the equivalent of a public school system. It's free and it's readily available to all, no matter what cable package you may have. The duty of companies like PBS is and always has been to bring educational programming to the masses, not only making it widely available, but also entertaining and educational. From Captain Kangaroo and the Electric Company to Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers, we all started off watching the classics. We learned our ABCs and how to share from Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street, how to read through LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow, and what it means to be a good neighbor through Mr. Rogers.
Thanks to the Children's Television Act of 1990, enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), each broadcast television station must provide programming designed to meet the education and informational needs of children, according to Children Now.
Since its inception in 1970, PBS retains its mission of educating, informing and inspiring kids with non-commercial programming, touching on areas of music, theater, science, nature, dance and art. The absence of commercials is one highlight of public broadcasting, which relies on donations from its viewers and grant funding to keep their doors open.
Other children's television networks, such as Nickelodeon and Disney, are private entities and air commercials as part of their programming schedule. You can keep your kids' love of the classics alive by pulling out your old DVD collection, or you could turn to some newer hits that still pack an educational punch.
New Shows to Inspire
Don't think of PBS Kids as a relic: in fact, it's reinvented itself over the years to offer the latest in learning-based programming dedicated to children no matter what their age. You'll still find the classics like Curious George, Thomas the Tank Engine and Clifford the Big Red Dog, traditional shows that continuously reinvent themselves to address current issues kids today face. Then, you'll find newer shows like Dinosaur Train that build on kids' love of prehistoric creatures, Word Girl and Word World that address spelling and reading concepts for preschoolers, Sid the Science Kid that builds on scientific and experimentation concepts, and Wild Kratts, which explores the wild world of animals. Classics such as the Cat and the Hat have resurrected timeless characters to put a whimsical spin on poetry and rhyming.
As long as you don't use the television as a babysitter all day long, you can relax knowing there's quality programming on TV that won't leave your kids looking like zombies.
This article was provided by Charity Bailey, Environmental Studies major and frequent day care volunteer. If you're a company looking for quality media presence, which effects and reaches a number of audiences, Charity recommends visiting http://us.moodmedia.com,
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