Major changes in the nature of children's television programming resulted and shows were linked to product advertising spurring a sophisticated cross-marketing of toys, videos and other products. Especially with the Power Rangers, which is a live action comic book. Young children admire the characters, who are teenagers doing all these fantastic things, and they want to be like them. Another consequence of the programming, Carlsson-Paige discovered, was that children's play became much more scripted and imitative of television shows, and less inventive, creative and reflective of children's own experiences. Carlsson-Paige doesn't blame parents.
Kids beg to watch the shows and buy the toys.
The parent gets put in the role of the bad guy. In the classroom, she advises teachers to intervene in play and direct it to a more creative activity, introducing alternative ideas, props, and themes. They speak on the topic at workshops, conferences, and at schools across the country, including Lesley's annual Peaceable Schools Institute. Teachers and parents have reported that the alternative play solutions are successful. We humanize that figure.