Not for preschoolers?

Jaena · Senior Otaku Gender: Joined: 09 Jan 2007

I just purchased a couple days ago the first group of "old school" Sesame Street DVDs, clips and episodes from the first five seasons.

As I was sitting with my son last night to watch the first ever episode, this little cartoon guy came up and said that these were for adults because they may not meet the educational needs of preschoolers.

... since when was Sesame Street not for preschoolers? The entire purpose of the entire Sesame Street project was to evolve with the needs of children, yes, but that still doesn't stop the fact that the first episodes were MADE FOR PRESCHOOLERS!

BAH!

Girkon · Chop Chop Fiend Gender: Joined: 29 Sep 2004

Meh it's just the times. The standards of what people think are "suitable" is always changing with each generation. Though yeah it's hard to reason how what was suitable for me when I watched it is no longer suitable for pre schoolers today.

ScrumYummy · bunnyhunches of scrums Gender: Joined: 29 Jun 2005

I bet Tipper Gore had something to do with it. XD She's the one who had an instrumental album by Frank Zappa get slapped with an "explicit content" label. :O

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

I think that's what it is - at the time, the CTW was trying to get to the pre-school education market, but as time goes on, what's considered effective education has changed. After all, Sesame Street has been around for... 30+ years, I believe, so standards have changed. Plus, some of the things that might have been topical then are useless now.

Al the DLOE · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:29 am Post subject:

hey could have been worse...could have show the child the definition of insanity know as a certain coyote ordering stuff from a company to help him catch one bird that he NEVER catches and the stuff he orders blowing up. and dont get me started on the cross dressing rabbit i grew up watching

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

I don't think the show's content had anything to do with that, though, Sperrit. It's the parent's fault for being too lazy to work with their own kids. Sesame Street alone isn't going to teach your kids everything they need to know.

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

Exactly my point! Regardless of what TV's limited abilities truly are it is better to learn from real people, real experience. I just can't get behind TV any more, especially not in terms of having the kids watching it every chance they get. I remember back in elementary school that the smartest kid in class was the one that didn't have a TV. He was reading Jules Verne at the age of 10 and had tackled most of the classics. I wish I had been more like that.

Join the Fun Fox

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

I think TV can be helpful for parents, though. Some people just don't know -how- to help their kids learn, but if they were to, say, -watch- Sesame Street -with- their kids, it'd give them some help in that arena. You know, teaching them what their kids should be able to master, etc. I find it rather useful for encouraging interactivity, movement, etc, as well, because they often use songs that help learn things, like the ABCs and stuff, and they can dance and interact with the TV and all that jazz.

I just don't like it when people use it as a babysitter and/or don't monitor their kids with it, or use it as the tool it is.