Re: Children and the media

I want to tell you how much I respect the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and other similar organizations that are committed to improving the lives of children.

I was pleased to read that your statement “Children and the media” (Paediatr Child Health 1999;4(5):350–354) did not suggest that parents throw their televisions and computers out the window, but rather asked them to consider the choices that they make about what is acceptable viewing for their children. Parents need guidance and information, and look to organizations such as the CPS to provide it. However, I am not sure that you have given the complete picture to parents. Your statement suggests that there is little escape from violence, inappropriate sexuality and offensive language on television. I want to make you aware that there are ‘safe places’ for kids to watch television, and TVOntario (TVO) happens to be one of them.

Television can be a very powerful, effective and positive tool when it is used appropriately, and a dangerous one when it is not. I believe that “Children and the media” should have given parents a little more guidance, and let them know that there are many healthy alternatives on television. Listing Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street in the statement not only ignores all the great shows produced in Canada, but also leads parents to believe there is little programming from which to choose.

Television is not a substitute parent or a teacher, but like any tool when used properly, it can have a very powerful and positive effect. Studies have shown that children who watched educational programs spent more time reading and participating in educational activities (1). In addition, these children performed significantly better than their peers on tests of letter-word knowledge, math skills, vocabulary size and school readiness. The research also shows that these same educational programs can contribute toward developing an ongoing love of learning in children that can stretch as far as high school (2).

TVO goes to great lengths to ensure that all of our programs are noncommercial, nonviolent, antistereotypical and educational. TVO is dedicated to improving the lives of children. Research now confirms that the first five years of life are crucial to children’s ability to learn, trust and love, and to develop a strong sense of themselves (3). Research has also proved that educational television helps not only to prepare kids for school but also helps to develop their emotional and social skills.

TVO takes great pride in being called the ‘prudes’ of the children’s networks. We drive producers to distraction by ensuring that anything inappropriate is immediately cut from a script. I am in total agreement that Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood are fine examples of wonderful shows for kids, but the following are examples of a few other shows that are equally as good and happen to be Canadian: Polka Dot Door, Polka Dot Shorts, Noddy, Elliot Moose, Little Bear, Arthur, Country Mouse and City Mouse, Popular Mechanics for Kids, After Math, Sci Squad, Maximum Dimension, Stuff, and Mr. Dress Up.

TVO has nurtured and trained some of the best and brightest producers and experts in children’s television. We have formed partnerships with educators, agencies and institutions that share our goals. We are aware that some 40% of all Canadian children arrive at school unfit to learn, one-quarter of four-year-olds are seriously aggressive and nearly three-quarters of seriously aggressive six-year-olds become antisocial adults. We always have these statistics in mind when we produce, coproduce and acquire programs. Our first question is always: What is the educational value? All programs must contain a lesson that develops social or emotional skills and/or more academic or cognitive skills.

As well, we invest a great deal of time, thought and money into our hosted segments that not only provide context to the produced programs but add to their educational content. This is especially true of our preschool block hosted by Gisele Corinthos. In consultation with the Early Childhood Education department at George Brown College, we have produced several hundred segments based on the kindergarten curriculum. The main purpose of these segments is to develop language, social, emotional, cognitive and motor skills. The segments encourage children to exercise, count, spell and most important, have lots of fun.

I would be happy to work with your organization at any time to help you understand better the children’s television industry. I would also welcome any comments or suggestions on how we may improve the work that we do. There is always room for improvement.