They beat me to it...

Shucks! So I'm not the first to blog about children's programming for American television, but that's fine. I found a number of other blogs that all had their own viewpoints on how television and film are affecting kids these days. I even noticed that each of these blogs call for the need to monitor what kids are watching. Here are some key points that I found throughout each blog:

1. Man, it's hard finding good, educational programming for young audiences. Why not go off the market and get those straight-to-dvd films that aren't advertised virtually at all on mainstream television?

2. Are these new forms of electronic media like interact tv shows or video games or even crazy iphones even that harmful towards kids? With all the new developments out there, who's to say that they aren't useful to our kids? Something interesting to think about: maybe newer forms of media entertainment might actaully benefit children...

3. Because I'm a moderate and love looking at both sides, I thought you might also. If we took another look at new film and television programs out there, exposed to our youth, some of it IS harmful. Don't be afraid to question what is considered appropriate for an elementary school kid.

4. And finally, when in doubt, go straight to the source: Moms! They have a ton of opinions on what type of shows are fun and educational for their kids and even if we should let them watch as much tv as they do.

All of this is such a good place for me to start as I journey further into the world of children's programming. These and other blogs make one common point that I agree with: We need more tv for kids! Although, I'm not sure I think that all television is bad for kids. I think there's a ton of great shows out there, but they seem to be pushed to the background behind more popular shows like Hannah Montana and ICarly. Why is that? Those shows aren't even for all ages. I'm gonna get to the bottom of this, don't you worry.

Kids Incorporated

After writing my first post, I realized that there may be more people out there who feel the same way that I do, or at least have some opinions on the subject of children’s programming. I came across an interesting blog through The Writer’s Guild Blog called “Kids’ Character in Search of a Slot.” This British cartoon bunny wants to join BBC, but discovers there are very few places where he fits. Each post deals with the ups and downs of children’s’ shows and how it affects his chances of getting on “the telly.” Even though his blog has only lasted through ten postings, my favorite one of Kids’ Character (or KC as he likes to be called) is "But I don't want to go to bed yet 7-9pm.” He talks about watching television after dinner but realizes that there are not enough “homegrown children’s programs” for primetime. I truly enjoy his storytelling. He addresses the issues of primetime television by telling his story of trying to impersonate a police officer to gain access to a major network television show. He sneaks in and “decides to be a super sleuthy type of detective and do a lot of sneaking and tiptoeing.” When he gains access to the studio, the director tosses a hooded sweatshirt at him assuming he is a pre-teen extra for the next episode. KC tries to tell him that “not every young person wears a hoody,” but he is unsuccessful and goes to set. KC soon discovers that many major tv shows stereotype kids as either juvenile delinquents or boy scouts. KC goes off on the director and expresses his feelings about watching his tv show,

“No one cares about us kids, not on telly not nowhere. If they did, we’d have places to play and we’d have telly that not only talked to us in our way but showed what we’re really like to the rest of the world too.”

KC makes a good point in a creative way. Kids want to watch shows that display a proper representation of who they are. I really enjoyed reading his posts and was sadden by the fact of how unpopular it was. No one ever commented on any of his fun posts, but don't let that stop you from checking out Kids’ Character’s adventures! I was especially glad I came across his blog because he is supported by another blog through The Writer’s Guild Blog called Save Kids TV . It is so nice to find another site that supports what I speak about in my blog. KC ‘s blog and more don’t just advocate for more age-appropriate television, but also question the changing times that affect the evolution of multiple shows. The only true difference between my blog and theirs is that I am focusing all my energy on American television because that is what I know, while they are British and have those experiences. Also, my alias name might be Dora but I'm not really animated haha. This KC was an animated character created to be the true speaker in each blog posting. I still think that this will help feed my work by gathering more supporters that have interests in this area. Come to think of it, I might be the first kid’s tv advocate for the United States…well, I’m probably not, but I’m still excited about what’s in store.

The Start of Something New...

Hey guys welcome to my blog! I have always loved the idea that television, especially in its programming, is always changing. However in this blog I will be exploring the world of children’s shows. I grew up in the 90s where television was really coming into its own. We had shows like “Hey Dude,” “All That,” “Boy Meets World,” “Doug,” and more. I always felt like there was something age appropriate that I could watch at all times, or at least until it was my bedtime. However, these days there are very few age appropriate television out there. There are only four major children’s networks: Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Sprout. There are a couple of channels that are for the whole family like ABC Family or the Hallmark Channel, but again, not a lot. In my blog, I am going to dive into the minds of kids and figure out the appeal that some shows have and try and understand why there are less and less kid’s programming available.

Now, some of you may be asking; “Why do you even care?” Well, I guess it comes from my own personal experience working with kids and pre-teens on a daily basis. I am a theatre major with an emphasis in acting, but I have always loved working with children. They have the most creative imaginations. I have always enjoyed watching them discover something new and interesting about themselves and the world around them. I am finding that more and more kids are drawn to what is out there on television, film, and the internet. They are influenced by popular culture and have stopped really thinking for themselves. Theater is an outlet that allows them to be as imaginative as possible, but recently, it is becoming harder to get them to expand their thinking.

It is true that there are educational shows that still exist for younger audiences, but they are only on at certain times in the morning and on certain stations that not all kids have access to. Some of my blogs will question the changes in programming content for most of the major kids’ shows as well as the addition of popular culture like rock and pop music and hip hop dancing. Gone are the days of simple animation and fun sounds and bright lights. Instead, kids these days want fast action, larger than life characters, REAL PEOPLE, and the ability to relate to what is happening in the show to their own lives.

I guess you could say that I am an advocate for more children’s programming. I want to understand the appeal of some of these shows and discuss reasons why they have changed or evolved into something new. I am going to question the dominance of real actors over animated cartoons, and I will unravel the reasoning behind adding new and more popular music and dance to most if not all major tv programs. This will be a blog that speaks for kids, brings us older folks back to the days of our youth, and enhances the knowledge of the world of kid shows for parents. I hope you enjoy!