For nearly 50 years educational television has charted a course for the cognitive development of young minds. In these years, well-designed television programs have assisted children in learning important academic skills like sound and letter recognition. Television has played a prominent educational role as a result of the way it uses language or a symbol system to convey a more experiential meaning, providing useful educational information to children in ways that differ from other communications media. Despite oppositions to the negative effects of uncontrolled consumption of TV by children, there is growing empirical backing that carefully crafted and targeted children programs can deliver an academic punch.
In the best children programs, kids learn oral vocabulary and featured words. They learn about moral dilemmas, humanistic values, maths, diversity, and the complexity of life. They learn worldviews. These programs introduce children to stories, songs and traditions. Carefully planned television programs can open new worlds for kids, taking them on imaginative flights across the globe. These programs teach children about different cultures and expose them to ideas they may never encounter in their immediate environment. Children’s shows with pro-social themes can influence kids’ behaviour, directing their attention to positive lifestyle choices.
A recently released study in the United States, for example, has affirmed the immense impact of kids’ programs like ‘WordWorld’ in the educational development of kids, especially in the area of vocabulary. Experts have also concluded that educational television programs have contributed to reading habits in kids. Another study shows that kids who watch informative and educational shows as pre-schoolers tend to watch more informative and educational shows when they get older, using TV as a complement to school learning. Children who viewed educational content tend to have higher grades, are less hostile and exhibit positive attitude towards their studies when they reach high school. Allowing children to access targeted educational programs exposes them to millions of words, especially children whose parents are unable to speak better than them.
Elsewhere, researchers have spent time trying to translate the impact of another popular kiddies show. ‘Between the Lions,’ a 10-year-old kiddies’ programme has been linked to significant gains in children’s understanding of how letters combine to make words.
Television also plays an important role in the development of a child’s communication skills. A researcher, Van Evra, who conducted extensive review of major studies about television and child development pointed out that moderate viewing of television programs helps develop the communication skills of children, especially those from disadvantaged background. Television also teaches children vital pro-social behaviours.
Well-designed programmes for children, like kiddies’ shows on DStv, can stimulate their imagination to the endless opportunities available in life. Television programmes on DStv channels such as PBS Kids, Mindset Learn, Disney Junior, and JimJam can expand a child’s understanding of the world just like good books. These content reflect the complexity of the emotional changes within the age group of these children and teach how they can deal with conflict that they may come up against. Television has taken advantage of the sophisticated technology of this age to develop multiple programs with valuable learning points for children on how to live in a community.
For a long time now, DStv has been using its kiddies’ channels to provide engaging and educational content for children. Its array of kids’ channels teaches children various life lessons, ranging from problem solving to empathy. Most recently, the Pay TV provider in a partnership with PBS, another long-time player in the field of educational children content, to boost its offerings for kids. This relationship is huge on many fronts, considering the enormous reputation of PBS and the content they will be offering on the DStv platform.
While announcing the partnership between DStv and PBS, Martin Mabutho, the Chief Customer Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, revealed that this was in line with MultiChoice’s commitment to exploring new ways of “expanding our customer offering, adding a children’s channel that is not only entertaining, but also experiential and educational.”
PBS KIDS is an avenue for kids to explore new ideas and new worlds. A survey of parents with young kids ages 2-6 revealed that media and technology are an essential part of preparing children to start elementary school. Parents considered PBS, the most reliable and trusted media brand for school readiness. In the area of school behaviour, PBS scored remarkably high, as parents revealed that children exhibited more positive behaviour after engaging with the network.
This partnership between DStv and PBS will bring high-quality educational children’s content to DStv and GOtv in all sub-Saharan Africa from May 22. All active DStv subscribers and GOtv Max and Plus customers will be able to enjoy well-known PBS KIDS series like ARTHUR, PINKALICIOUS and PETERRIFIC and WORDWORLD on DStv channel 313 and GOtv channel 65. PINKALICIOUS and PETERRIFIC is based on the beloved book series by Victoria Kann that encourages self-expression in kids and the exploration of the arts, music, dance and visual arts. The show takes children on a creative adventure. With these new shows, parents can rest assured that time spent in front of TV by kids will yield immense value.
Mayowa Owojaiye
Mayowa Owojaiye, a Public Relations/Communications professional.
