When TV Actually Taught You Something
As kids watching our beloved Saturday morning cartoons in the 70s, we all tended to stay glued to the TV even during commercials. Who knew when the next best cereal, action figure, or Nerf (named after the foam padding of bike handles and off-road vehicles) football or frisbee would be advertised over and over again to our parents' despise?
And amongst those commercials, every hour, we got educated.
The educational cartoon Schoolhouse Rock would sneak in and teach us about English, government, or math, among many topics. How many of us can STILL sing the lyrics to Conjunction, Junction, What's Your Function?
Why the nostalgia? Another creator of the Schoolhouse Rock has passed away.
George Newall, who co-created the celebrated kids’ educational cartoon Schoolhouse Rock for ABC, has died. The New York Times reports that he passed away at 88 years old due to cardiopulmonary arrest, according to his wife, Lisa Maxwell.
The series ran from 1973 until 1984 and was known for helping Generation X kids, like me, learn through song.
Of course, we now have full-on channels with kids' programming. But are they more than just a babysitting option? Behind paywalls? Even PBS's Sesame Street was drawn in by the money from HBO, costing parents a mere $120 per year.
Can we do better for our kids? Yep. WE, collectively, and individually as responsible parents, can do better for our kids.
Did you take time to read to your kid today? Just 10-15 minutes at night before they go to bed can do amazing things for you and your child. And can be the best memories you have while your kids are growing up.
It's not about just about reading to them, it's letting them read to you as well. And making up voices for the characters in the book. Or changing the story and ending.
It's about the time you spend with them.
It's Common Sense Ohio.
