Kids TV wasn’t like this when I was young!
When I was young, preschool kids TV meant Playschool each morning and Bagpuss or the Flumps if I was lucky. We certainly had no dedicated Kids TV Channel.
It is probably impossible for children today to imagine only 3 TV channels and no kids TV on a Sunday. Black Beauty was the best Sunday TV had to offer in my day.
Before my baby was born, I was looking forward to the joys of CBeebies. I think I may have been crazy. Yes some of the programmes are brilliant, but when you have seen the same one 3 times in one day, you start to go slightly bonkers. I will admit some programmes I could watch endlessly. Timmy Time and Pingu are my favourites. Luckily for me, they are favourites of 3yo too! It is slightly disturbing though that he has a fondness for Waybuloo. Just what is that show about? I just don’t get it. Maybe you have to be under 5 to appreciate these things. I hate the dubbed voices, I hate the freaky floating creatures. I hate the fact that pretty much nothing happens.
I like kids TV programmes to be fun, bright and educational. Justin Fletcher seems to get it right. Mr Tumble is genius, Gigglebiz IS funny, Something Special teaches us sign language in a way that I and 3yo actually remember. I love the shows that give me ideas for what I can do with 3yo. I Can Cook – Katy cooks things that are healthy and fun to make. Kids cooking doesn’t have to be just Crispie Crackles. Mister Maker and Doodle Do have fun arts and crafts ideas that keep me and 3yo entertained. (Maybe they just keep the inner Blue Peter presenter in me satisfied.)
It is easy to let CBeebies become your babysitter though. The off button on the TV is hard to press, even when you are going nuts at the thought of watching Balamory AGAIN! Some experts say that you shouldn’t let your young child watch TV. Some say limit it. I agree that if your child is doing something else, don’t have it on in the background. It is a distraction that doesn’t help young minds concentrate on something else, and let’s face it, it can send mum potty! The CBeebies babysitter is useful when you are busy. It has it’s drawbacks though. The songs and theme tunes wafting in from the living room to the kitchen while you are making dinner, can have the effect of getting inside your head for hours. Anyone been humming the tune to Timmy Time – ALL THE TIME?
What do you think is the best and worst of kids TV?
When I was a kid, kids’ TV was scarce. In fact, kids’ TV was whatever the grown-ups were watching. I remember a few TV shows made for kids (RoadRunner, Bugs Bunny, Schoolhouse Rock), but there certainly seemed less concern about making TV educational.
I think the changes today are a mixed bag. In a way it’s good that some TV is educational – helping toddlers learn their letters, etc. But sometimes so-called “educational” TV just means more TV watching.
I’m not against TV for kids. (I allow my two to watch a limited amount.) But I think sometimes thinking TV is educational or geared for kids gives parents a false sense of security that the show is OK for their children.
Yep, we have a tv babysitter in our house too!! When Amy watches telly she just assumes that all the channels are known as “101, 102, 103, etc” or the Kids channels on Sky. They’ve no idea have they!!
CJ xx
Gina – thanks for your comment, I think it is very true that some TV is wrapped up as educational, and makes you think it’s good for kids to watch it
CJ – same in our house the channels are named by their numbers!