Nickelodeon, a children-oriented cable network, developed a morning block of shows to educate and entertain preschoolers. Examples abound of both renewed public appreciation for television's ability to influence viewers and regained commitment to put this ability to good use for children. It is television's potential for educating in and out of school and influencing a child's lifestyle that motivates us to get involved. And well we should. Television can use us.
Most youngsters spend two to four hours a day in front of a home television.
Not all TV is bad. In fact, a substantial body of educational research demonstrates that television can be a fine source of learning. Other research shows that television's reach extends to children's social and emotional lives, influencing them to be more helpful, aggressive, materialistic, non-sexist and more. Television works whether children are watching at home, at school, in a village shed or at a city recreation center. It works whether it's a main means of learning or an occasional adjunct.