darkSpyro

I've seen a lot of debate about this. I want to know what you guys think.

I don’t know... I think something like Animaniacs where they intersperse educational songs in with dumb cartoony hijinx is the best way to get a kid to learn something.

I’m sure those kinds of shows are fine for kids, but I personally would like to see more shows try the Animaniacs approach

If it's about shows, there are educational shows and there are educational shows. I watched some real cool ones that even an adult can enjoy that teach nice things in a fun way, but there are also shows that treat children like morons, or other shows that shove in the lessons that make no sense or are even wrong for a kid that age to learn. Sonic Says is just a segment but that one about never calling the police ever comes to mind; good intentions but you just taught a child getting attacked is no reason to call for help.

Oh, and when Sonic rode a bike without a helmet.

Absolutely, the shows a child watches growing up have a huge influence. When I was a little kid I watched stuff like Dora the Explorer and I think shows like that can really help kids understand concepts of friendship, math, repetition and language in a fun way.

I think kids show should be entertaining and educational and kids of all ages can enjoy without having the morals shoved. A good educational cartoon example is VeggieTales, it teaches kids good life lessons without having it making kids seem like morons.

I have learned more about real life from South Park than any other cheesy after-school special happiness glorifying "you can be what you want to be" bs show. Yes there are educational kids shows but most of early morning cartoons are action-filled non-stories for people who don't pay any rational attention. I am sorry, that was harsh and rude opinion but that is my honest take on this subject.

not anymore, no

For some shows, yes. Sesame Street is an example of this. Although, it kind of varies after that. A lot of them seem to give a generic message.


Sesame Street is the only one I can think of that stayed great and truly edutational.

Quote: Project_Unnamed

I have learned more about real life from South Park than any other cheesy after-school special happiness glorifying "you can be what you want to be" bs show. Yes there are educational kids shows but most of early morning cartoons are action-filled non-stories for people who don't pay any rational attention. I am sorry, that was harsh and rude opinion but that is my honest take on this subject.

Yeah, but you don't want that on kids who are going to be REAL cruel towards other kids with any cynism they can get their hands on. There's an age to start learning how a lot of things suck and you have to find smaller things to enjoy.

Quote: Bifrost

Quote: Project_Unnamed

I have learned more about real life from South Park than any other cheesy after-school special happiness glorifying "you can be what you want to be" bs show. Yes there are educational kids shows but most of early morning cartoons are action-filled non-stories for people who don't pay any rational attention. I am sorry, that was harsh and rude opinion but that is my honest take on this subject.

Yeah, but you don't want that on kids who are going to be REAL cruel towards other kids with any cynism they can get their hands on. There's an age to start learning how a lot of things suck and you have to find smaller things to enjoy.

I do agree with you. There is a correct time and a place for kids to learn about realism and all that. But I just wish that usual morning cartoon entertainment would accept realism over sick optimism as their main lesson to be taught to kids. I mean that there is nothing wrong to encourage people to reach their dreams but it is wrong to lie that they can reach everything they want to reach. Sometimes dreams come true but sometimes they don't regardless of the hard work and all that... Life is life...

Okay.

Why do you think certain TV shows treat kids like morons?

Educational content that only garners and interest in educational topics is just as good as learning specific usable facts imo. If you classify educational shows like that then yes I think they are. Key examples are Magic School Bus and Bill Nye the Science Guy. I don't remember anything concrete I learned from either but they both made me interested in science. Reading Rainbow, though I can't name many books they featured, still nurtured my love of books. Arthur used a a lot of real world conflicts kids deal with in its story telling and it did make me a more conscientious person when dealing with others even if it didn't tell me exactly what to do in a difficult situation.

Quote: parisruelz12

Okay.

Why do you think certain TV shows treat kids like morons?

Producers with no idea or a very misinformed idea on how to approach things. Big difference between "don't touch things that look dangerous without supervision they might be hot or sharp" and "fire bad, things that are hot make your fingers have a boo boo" and a kid at an age to watch TV probably is also at an age to be extremely disinterested in that second one.

Still not as bad as outright teaching bad things. Not edutaniment, but helloooo Masha and the Bear.

Depends on the show.

Horrible Histories was good fun and they even got me to sing a song for them.