Smart Quality TV For Your Children
Culture and Entertainment Blog, Kodoom.com Editorial
Most Asian immigrants, including Iranians in diaspora, highly value education so they often feel frustrated trying to find high quality TV programs in English language for their children to watch. Many TV programs - in US, Canada, Europe, Australia - are commercially oriented and not only lack educational benefits but also convey norms that violate cultural traditions dear to Iranians and Eastern cultures, such as modesty, humility, politeness, compassion, diligence, and respect of the elders. The following is a partial list of some TV programs in the US that combine entertainment with education and norms that are compatible with traditions in Iran and other Asian countries such as Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, China, and Korea:
Younger Children:
A large number of PBS (Public Broadcast System) Kids programs produced in English language are both educational and fun. Depending on your child's age you may find the following beneficial and not a waste of your child's brain and time:
Curious George: Based on a 1941 book by Margret and H. A. Rey, the joyous, colorful TV series showcases stories of a good-hearted monkey who is innocently trying to decipher the world of good-hearted adults. All clean fun and education for younger children. Common Sense Media gives the show a score of 4 out of 5 and an excellent review because of positive role models and representations: "Parents need to know that George's curiosity is contagious and will probably encourage preschoolers who watch Curious George to explore their surrounding in similar ways. That's great, but it also means that little ones need to be cautioned about certain things George does that may actually be dangerous in real life."
World Girl: Great to improve your English vocabulary. A brainy heroine (female hero) uses proper English vocabulary to outwit bad guys. The female superhero in the show is particularly empowering to young girls. Common Sense Media gives the show a score of 4 out of 5 and an excellent review.
Wild Kratts: Zoologist brothers get animated in fun, kid-friendly series to educate children about natural ecosystems, animals and environment. Common Sense Media assigns an A+ to the show's educational value.
Arthur: The 8-year-old title character of the animated series ARTHUR is a sweet, curious kid with more than his share of self-consciousness. He shares insecurities, adventures, and the spotlight with a varied cast of friends and family members. Based on the book series by Marc Brown, Arthur premiered in 1996 and is a recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award and multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Animated Program. Common Sense Media rates Arthur as One of the best offerings for kids: "Parents need to know that despite the fun, lighthearted nature of Arthur, its social lessons (which cover a wide range of situations) are more complex and original than you'll find in most cartoons." Children of any age can watch alone, but those 7 and over will understand the stories best.
Created by Aardman Animations, Shaun the Sheep is a spin off series based on a character from Nick Parks Oscar winning film, A Close Shave, and creators of Wallace and Gromit. The light-hearted series is suitable for children 5-8 years old and rated with 4 out of 5 stars by Common Sense Media: "The animal characters engage in some mildly naughty behavior (playing football with a cabbage, making a mess of The Farmer's house when he's away), but it's offset by the situational humor, and they always set things right in the end."
Teenagers:
It becomes harder to find smart TV for teenagers but here are a few:
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events or simply A Series of Unfortunate Events, is a smart witty black comedy-drama web television series on Netflix based on Lemony Snicket’s children's novel series of the same name. Teenagers and adults will find smart dialogues and ironies, and the despair felt by orphaned yet smart and hopeful children betrayed by adults who are greedy and malevolent, or well-intentioned yet incompetent, or slow and cowardly.
Brain Games TV series produced by National Geographic and screened on Netflix is sure to appeal to smart tweens, teens (10-19 year old) and adults alike so a great program to watch with your children. This Emmy-nominated series is designed to mess with the ultimate supercomputer. Host Jason Silva reveals how brains process information related to topics like stress, addiction, competition, food, trust and language. Interactive games and hidden-camera experiments capture hilarious and shocking results, and viewers get real-world takeaways - how to improve memory, get a better night's sleep, make more money - to use in everyday situations. Common Sense Media rates the show with 4 stars and rates it's educational value as A+: "Parents need to know that Brain Games is a fascinating exploration of the science behind how we process information, perceive our surroundings, and respond to stimuli, as demonstrated by experiments, optical illusions, and brainteasers that encourage audience participation. Even kids can get in on the fun, and once they're engaged, they'll learn about how the brain is hardwired to keep us safe, happy, and focused. That said, some episodes explore concepts like fear and anxiety, and it can be uncomfortable to watch the subjects endure those experiments, so it's best to preview them before you watch with your kids."
Related to Youth:
- In Pictures: Makeshift Rural Schools in Iran
- Iran Now A Powerhouse in Volleyball: U19 Team Tops FIVB Global Ranking for the First Time Ever
- Iranian Students Abroad in Abject Conditions Following Currency Crisis
- Iranian Students Win World Championship Title in Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Iranians Make History in Summer Youth Olympics, Beat US, France, UK and Germany in Gold Medals
- Young Iranian Makes History, Wins World Chess Junior Championship Without a Coach
- Iranians appalled by forced TV confessions of a young girl found guilty of dancing!
- Young Iranians win Gold and Silver at the FIDE World Chess Championships
- Indignant Girls Film Themselves Before Suicide in Isfahan
- Iranian Norwegian Aryan Tari wins World Junior Chess Championship
- Iranians stun Germans in 4-0 victory in FIFA U-17 World Cup
- Young Iranian Women Hit The Bulls Eye, Win Historic Gold Medals in WDF Darts World Cup
- In Pictures: Rohani's fans celebrate victory despite pressures
- Iranian American student makes audience laugh, think (Video)
- Tehran's Rich Kids start own page on Facebook
