Parents only---Barney, Teletubbies, what?

[sweaver]

In a discussion started elsewhere, Smed and I were discussing the relative merits of what we let our children watch. With 4 kids, I have thought about this a lot. We have never let the kids watch Teletubbies. To me, that's a scary show. However, Barney has been regarded as a good choice at our house. It is actually a model of a good children's show, with a continuing story for a half-hour, with songs and other memory aids to help kids remember ABCs, or safety rules, or whatever. Yes, there is repetition, but that is how children learn.

Parents, other thoughts?

[SmedIndy]

Since Katie is just 6 months old, she's not too picky on her shows. She really liked curling and hockey in the Winter Olympics!

I myself have seen the Teletubbies and thought they were cute. Compared to Mr. Rogers, the Electric Company, or Sesame Street, I didn't think Barney was that good, and was more of a marketing ploy than quality educational work.

In seriousness, we'll let Katie decide. I'm voting for Sponge Bob and the Powerpuff Girls, myself. As long as you don't allow TV or videos to be a baby sitter, and they're watching appropriate shows, all adult bias aside, let them decide. I know that in a few months the Sopranos and Six Feet Under will be relegated to times where Katie is not awake so she won't learn some new, ineteresting words....

[pwdennis]

Sorry - I still miss Captain Kangaroo - kids have been out of the house for years so I (thankfully) can't comment on Teletubbies, although I think Spongebob Squarepants is well conceived

[johnny]

Not a fan of teletubbies. Their home gives me the creeps.

My daughter has gotten me hooked on powerpuff girls! Looking forward to the movie. (Seriously...I shouldn't say that though, right? ;)) She grew up on Barney and Sesame Street.
I love Thomas the tank engine, but she won't watch it with me :(

[sweaver]

The kids all liked watching baseball with me when they were babies. I figure it was the primary colors. (Green grass, red and blue on fences, seats, etc.)

[hmrsf]

Jaqui loved baseball when she was little. She would pretend to throw like the Wocket. She would pull on long Red Sox and pitch in the living room.

I will never forget the time she cried her heart out when Billy Hatcher ran into the wall and did not get up for awhile. I had to tell her he was ok over and over again. Only time I turned the Sox off. She was really shaken.

Now, she goes to 1-2 games a year and feels full. I am hoping this teenage thing is a phase.

BTW, what's wrong with the Teletubbies? My cousin introduced them to Jacqui and I. Cute show.

[Skip]

Thornberry's = good (entertainment)
Blue's Clues = very good (entertainment + some additional value)
Barney = pretty good. (entertainment + some additional value)
SpongeBob = good (entertainment)
Tubbies = goo

(no, I didnt forget the 'd')

[poorme]

I'm not a parent, but I used to be a first-grade teacher. That's how I have the patience to deal with you guys!!! I've seen research that shows that a limited amount of TV viewing is good for child development. I would say shows that use language and social interaction would be the way to go. Sesame Street comes to mind. My plan is to let the kids watch maybe an hour of tv a day.

[RichG]

Originally posted by sweaver
In a discussion started elsewhere, Smed and I were discussing the relative merits of what we let our children watch. With 4 kids, I have thought about this a lot. We have never let the kids watch Teletubbies. To me, that's a scary show.

I agree with you about the Teletubbies. The first time I saw the kid superimposed over the sun it gave me the creeps for some reason. Count Floyd would have been impressed.

[spitball]

Here's the morning sched.
7:00 A.M., Sesame Street ( I find myself singing The theme from Elmo's World quite alot during the day)
Nothing else until Teletubbies at 11:00 A.M.
Hazel loves the baby in the sun and the repetition really works.
She has Po , Lala, and the gay one,Tinkywinky.
She has a Power Puff Girls plate , bowl ,and utensils.
Oh yeah...she likes Jay Jay the Airplane...that's one she gets to watch once and awhile.

[TreAnt985]

Originally posted by poorme
I'm not a parent, but I used to be a first-grade teacher. That's how I have the patience to deal with you guys!!! I've seen research that shows that a limited amount of TV viewing is good for child development. I would say shows that use language and social interaction would be the way to go. Sesame Street comes to mind. My plan is to let the kids watch maybe an hour of tv a day.
I grew up on the TV!
And look where I am now--I post 12 times a day to a baseball forum and wait for people to respond to my trivia questions;)

[sweaver]

I pin at least part of the blame for short attention spans on Sesame Street. People talk about the quick cuts and brief looks on MTV, but it really started with Bert and Ernie.

SS has always had those short 2-3 minute skits, with some shorter stuff. I think it prompted the MTV editing style. I would actually rather have Barney, which continues for a half hour. Granted, SS is very inventive and imaginative. My kids, and me too, always have liked Barney better.

[spitball]

I don't know what's scarier. Clowns or Barney. The little actor kids on Barney really annoy the heck out of me.
If you want repetition without quick cuts watch Teletubbies.
I can't believe I'm writing this. What am I saying?:help:

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by sweaver
I pin at least part of the blame for short attention spans on Sesame Street. People talk about the quick cuts and brief looks on MTV, but it really started with Bert and Ernie.


Actually, it had some genesis to be hip with Laugh-In, Sweaver. Monty Python, too.

Mr. Rogers...now that was a quality show with snap-snap-snappy theme music.

[Skip]

My kids are almost too old for this discussion now, but my youngest son (5) likes (hope I get this right) Dora the Explorer and Stanley. Sort of interactive shows which bring outside knowledge into the context of the cartoon. Mostly time filler though, I will admit. We spend most of our time doing things together without much TV. When he starts kindergarten this fall, I'll miss that. (Plus I'll probably go back to full time work - yuck)

I really despise Teletubbies. Used to despise Barney, but grew to appreciate it. Sesame Street is fine, but waaaaayyyy overrated.

[sweaver]

We are fans of Stanley here too. Mostly Disney Channel stuff here now, like PB&J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie.

[SmedIndy]

I love Sponge Bob Square Pants and the Powerpuff Girls...oh...you mean kids are supposed to watch these shows!

[Skip]

I used to hate SpongeBob and wouldn't let the kids watch it - it was sooooo stuuupidd. I've now seen the light (or else I've devolved).

I'm Squidward, I'm Squidward, I'm Squidward Squidward Squidward!

[poorme]

Every Saturday morning I used to watch the Bugs Bunny show on ABC. Those are artistic masterpieces. They will be mandatory viewing for my children. They still crack me up. I think Cartoon Network bought them all, but I don't know when/if they show them.

[spitball]

Sunday morning on Cartoon Network is Warner Bros. time. Check it out. My son is really into the old stuff now. They really are educational because of all the references to old movie stars , war bonds , and the like. Sam will ask me about some reference or other and I give him the context.
Kind of a stealthy way to sneak in a little history lesson. ;)
Cartoon Network has some really great original stuff also.
Power Puff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, 2 Stupid Dogs. All of them are funny for the kids and the adults.
In our house it's mostly the adults. Shelli and I really enjoy watching some of those shows when it's a slow night and we just want to chill. Hazel (my daughter,17 months) can say Power Puff Girls, though it sounds more like Pa Pu Guhs .

[Skip]

Dexter is great, especially when it spoofs on other shows like Speed Racer. The rest, PPG and Johnny Bravo et al, are dreck. I'm SOOOO looking forward to the PPG movie later this summer.

My kids also seem to enjoy the old WB cartoons as much or more than anything new. Who'da figured?