Children’s Television Programming: What Really is the Lesson Here?

I can always tell when a thought I have is going to make a good blog post by the reaction it gets on my Facebook page. Case in point - my feeling on various children’s television programs, which I’ve learned over the past year are shared by many, but also bring out many interesting points.

This week’s bit of knowledge: So we know Caillou seems to constantly whine in every episode. Well, this week I’m realizing that Thomas the Train consistently does what he wants to do and never listens to what he's told until it is too late.

This was first noticed with the episode where he is responsible for delivering a giraffe to the new Sodor Animal Park. And of course Thomas was excited to bring the tallest animal on the island so all the children could see him. But the giraffe was standing in the back of the train car. Thomas was told to wait for the giraffe’s handler who could get him to sit down before taking off, but Thomas was insistent the Giraffe would do what Thomas told him. But guess what? He doesn’t. The giraffe doesn’t want to sit down and Thomas gets stuck when he can’t travel under a bridge with a standing giraffe.

So tell me, what exactly do these programs teach our children? That it’s OK to be stubborn and be a know it all? Or to whine until you can get your way?

I posed the question to my Facebook friends and got some great responses, and also hear about what programs they prefer for their children. I got some great responses, including:

“I feel like Curious George is also the same … he’s always naughty but it always works out for him.”

“Tinkerbell & Ariel are the same way. Belle from Beauty & the Beast is the only good girl we know!”

What do you think? Are you in agreement in that sometimes it seems these programs aren’t always sending positive messages, or are we missing the message because we can’t get past the “bad” behavior that’s taking us to the lesson? Are their programs you think are better for young children?

Chime in - would love to hear your thoughts and share them here in the future!