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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether
a program is right for kids?
How can I help children
get more out of TV?
Can TV really help children
grow?
What if I can't answer
my children's questions?
How can I help my child
get more out of TV?
What if I don't know the
answers to my child's questions?
Do follow-up activities
have to be messy to be fun?
What's
on the Web?
How do I know
whether a program is right for kids?
Ask yourself a few questions. Will
the program expose children to good role models? Will
it help them understand and explore their world? Will
it awaken their curiosity? Will it encourage their social
skills? Quality children's television should do all
of these.
Tip: A safe bet is PBS children's
programming. Public television provides a healthy, nonviolent
TV neighborhood – and kids are so busy having fun
that they don't even notice how much they're learning.
How can I help
children get more out of TV?
You can help children make sense of
what they watch by talking with them afterward. Ask
questions that encourage them to think. What did they
like best? What did they learn from the program? Was
there anything they didn't understand? Is there something
they want to find out more about? Chatting with your
kids – even briefly – helps them make sense
of what they have seen.
Tip: You don't always have to watch
a whole program together. But sitting with your group
for at least a few minutes makes it easier for you to
talk about the program afterwards.
Can TV really
help my child grow?
Yes! But it takes some work on your
part. In addition to watching programs with your child
and talking about them afterward, you also need to help
her choose challenging shows. Convince her to try something
different from what she normally watches – for
instance, a nature show instead of cartoons. Or maybe
it's time to introduce her to quality programming for
the next age group. Gently push your child to get more
out of TV. But remember that doing something new is
usually hard and you'll need to help her, especially
at first.
Tip: As your child gets older,
encourage her to watch part of a documentary, nature
special, or other adult educational program with you.
Even if she doesn't understand everything she sees,
it can inspire her to learn more. Follow up with activities
that help her do just that.
What if I can't
answer my children's questions?
The secret is, you don't need to be
a walking encyclopedia. Let your children see that adults
don't always have all the answers, but show them it's
worth the effort to search. Next time they stump you
with a question, say "I don't know, but let's see if
we can find out!" Together, track the answer down.
Tip: Knowing how to search for
answers is just as important as knowing what the answers
are.
Tip: Be sure to have paper and
pencils around your child care setting. That way, it's
easy to write down questions for later.
Do follow-up activities
have to be messy to be fun?
When kids experiment, it can lead
to a certain amount of chaos. To minimize your stress,
set aside an area where children can work worry-free.
Teach kids to protect the floor or table top with a
sheet of plastic, and provide rags or paper towels for
emergencies. Agree on a few basic ground rules –
for example, no painting unless they ask first. Set
expectations for when the area must be cleaned up: once
a week, once a day, or after each activity. By creating
a safe space for experiments, you encourage children's
natural curiosity about the surrounding world.
Tip: Try not to sweat the small
stuff. Show your children that learning is an exciting
adventure – one that's not always neat and tidy.
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