“Educational” Programming: Yay or Nay?

You’re a parent, so you want to help your child get the most out of their education. But did you know that many kids spend more time watching TV… than they do in school?

It’s true. A recent study found that kids ages 2-5 spend 32 hours a week watching TV!

Experts agree that too much TV is bad for kids. It contributes to obesity and aggression. But research says that the right amount of educational/informational (E/I) TV can help your child read.

But what is the right amount? And what shows are best for your child? Read on to help your child get the most out of E/I programming.


There are a lot of good E/I shows…

Photo credit: Ambro

E/I programming uses actors and stories to teach a lesson. Kids learn skills like letter recognition and spelling.


This is great for reluctant readers. Hearing the same things in a new way may help them “get it.” Learning from their favorite actors shows them that reading can be fun.

E/I shows can help your 3-year old to get a head start in preschool. They can also help kids who are doing well in school! Repetition is the key to children’s learning. E/I shows can help reinforce what happens at school.

Finally, E/I TV exposes kids to new cultures, places and ideas. It also tackles hard issues, like bullying. This can help you talk to your child about tough topics.


But not all shows are created equal.


Scientists recently studied 40 popular E/I shows. They rated how well the shows taught their main lesson -- and how important that lesson was.

Only 13% of the episodes were “highly educational.” Almost 26% were found to have minimal educational value.  Many E/I shows focus on feelings and relationships. This leaves less time for reading and math.

So how can I help my child learn?

In spite of this, there is much your child can learn from E/I TV. Get the most out of it with these pointers:

1.     Moderation. TV can be great for teaching lessons. But exploration is an important part of learning. Take your child to the park. Use paints and blocks. Invent a new game. These activities will help your child develop problem-solving abilities that last their whole life.

2.     Follow up. Pay attention to what your child is watching. Is there a book based on the show? Is a poet or author featured? Is there any part of the program your child really enjoyed? Use TV to spark your child’s interest in reading.

3.     Get involved. Ask your child questions about the show. Try phrases like, “Why do you think…?” or, “I wonder why…?”

4.     Try video games. Reading games like StudyDog are a lot like E/I shows. They use characters and stories to get a child’s interest. But unlike TV, games require active participation. They move at your child’s pace. They give your child goals and feedback. Some, like StudyDog, will even keep you posted on your child’s progress.

Click here to learn more about why video games are such powerful motivators.

5.     Find your child in the show.  Kids think that TV reflects reality. If there is no one like them on the show – racially, religiously, physically, etc. – it could hurt their self-esteem.

6.     Consider these shows. They received the highest rankings in a study funded by Children Now. Each features “exemplary” educational content.

 

In short, there’s nothing wrong with watching a little educational TV. Your child could even learn something! But with your help, they will learn even more.

Parents: What TV shows does your child like? How much do you let them watch?

Be The Best Motivator in the World! 4 Lessons That Parents Can Learn… From Mario

Kids love video games. Once they start, it’s hard to make them stop! Yet games require time and effort to master. Players must develop new skills by doing repetitive tasks. Over and over and over. And they must have a high tolerance for failure and frustration.

When you put it that way, gaming doesn’t sound like fun at all. So why do kids love it?

According to renowned psychologist Mark Lepper, video game designers may understand motivation better than anyone else. Their job is to keep kids glued to the screen. Here are four lessons that teachers and parents can use to help their students glued to other things -- school, music lessons

1. Feedback. Knowing how you are doing is so important! When children play video games, they constantly receive updates, points and feedback. They never have to wonder how they’re doing.

Feedback is everywhere!

If you want to keep your child going, give them feedback. Don’t just point out what they’re doing wrong! Tell them what they’re doing right. Not only does this keep them on track, but it also shows them that their goals are important to you, too.

Click here for tips on how to provide the most effective feedback. 

2. Sub-goals. Kids have a difficult time with goals that are too far off. Wanting to be a doctor someday just isn’t enough to keep a six-year-old going. For very young children (2-3 years), even a goal that takes more than a few days can be too difficult. They have to break it down into smaller goals to celebrate along the way.

Games like Super Mario Brothers 3 wouldn’t have been nearly as successful if each world had been one huge level. Instead, they broke it down into a series of structured challenges, with surprises and rewards at key points. 

For tips on how to help your child set good goals, click here.

3. Challenge. Remember flow? That state of being pleasantly and completely absorbed by a goal-driven activity? That is exactly what good video games provide to your children. They match the level and tempo of the game’s challenges to each player’s skills. Games that fail to do this – such as games involving fashion or virtual dolls – are usually the ones that don’t take. 

How can you apply this to your child’s reading? One way is by using an online reading tool like StudyDog. Like a video game, StudyDog matches the pace of the reading challenges to your child’s level. This way, they won’t get bored (when it’s too easy) or frustrated (when it’s too hard).

You can also help your child find books that are just right for their level. If you’re not sure what that level is, download one of these free and easy tests to find out.

Click here for the Schonell Reading Test.

Click here for the San Diego Quick Assessment.

4. Second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) chances. In video games, the outcome is never final. If a rock crushes you, you go back to the beginning of the level and try again. You may lose some points, but it is never your last chance.

When your child faces an obstacle to their goal, remember to always focus on how they can fix it, or what they should do next time. Remind them that there will always be a next time.

Note: This does NOT say, “GAME OVER – THAT WAS YOUR LAST CHANCE AND YOU CAN NEVER TRY THIS AGAIN!” 

So go ahead – try these strategies with your child! Whether they want to learn a new song on the piano or improve their reading scores or anything else, these tips will help keep your child motivated and on track.

Parents: Do you have any tips you would add to this list?