An Educational Safari

By James G. Pynn

The continued popularity of educational television shows has managed to generate some level of controversy, as indeed, it seems some people are not convinced as to the efficacy of the basic premise behind the idea of learning from watching television programming. Researchers at the University of Washington took aim at the assertions that exposing toddlers and young children to educational programming increased their learning capacity.

The research concluded there was no verifiable benefit to exposing children to educational videos. That being said, the research, conducted by Frederick Zimmerman, Dimitri Christakis, and Andrew Meltzoff, likewise concluded that there was no significant harm either. Indeed, the study specifically states, "Among toddlers aged 17 to 24 months, the study found no significant effects, either negative or positive, for any of the forms of media that were viewed."

While this is not a glaring condemnation, neither is it a glowing endorsement. The major company involved in this debate, Disney, has made it clear that it is parental involvement that makes programming educational. The concern is creating content that is age-appropriate and entertaining. Indeed, a show in-and-of-itself is no substitute for an involved parent who can help the child incorporate the material as educational information.

The quest to learn and know more is characteristic of toddlers and young children; indeed it is a uniquely human characteristic. How that information is filtered and assimilated is as much a byproduct of a child's environment as the raw information itself. Helping children correlate specific animal noises, for example, with specific animals requires a parent or teacher to help shape and make sense of the presented information. There is no magical fountain of learning -- and what plays out on the television screen must be translated and given scope.

So it is that educational shows seem to provide the raw material any involved parent can help shape for his or her child. It seems Disney, among others, is dedicated to this interaction between child, parent and screen. To be sure, without the parent, the television screen becomes nothing more than a surrogate caregiver, and a rather shallow one at that. The commitment to family entertainment is, in a manner of speaking, a commitment to family involvement. - 23815

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Interested parents and children are encouraged to seek out a host of interactive, educational programs. One of the more popular series is Disney's BABY NOAH series.