by Raquel Arnold

Created on: September 14, 2009

There's no doubt that children shows give a less than realistic portrayal of reality.

Children shows mostly have one goal: to educate children about social interaction and the world itself. Simple lessons like being kind to your fellow man, helping someone in need, and just enjoying the little things in life are implemented in us from an early age. Sure, unorthodox methods are used to drive these points home; old favorites like a big purple dinosaur, or a friendly old man next door who always wanted more neighbors, and even some newer ones, like four aliens from teletubby land or a show of singing monsters. This things are larger than life, but they need to be so that children will take notice and understand. Do you think you would have enjoyed listening to a monotone children's show host as a kid, without the aid of a sassy puppet settled snuggly on his hand? Highly doubtful. As long as we teach our children that the lessons are more important than the fictional lands and characters, there is absolutely no harm in being entertained in between learning life lessons.

As a nineteen year old, I've had a little more than two years to open the proverbial door to adulthood and explore what's on the other side. To say that it was a shock to the system would be an understatement. Things that mattered as a child did not seem to apply to being an adult. However, I believe that all aspects and ages of life, as it pertains to the media, are heavily exaggerated as well. This is evident when children see shows starring tweens and aspire to enter those awkward, pimple-filled years of puberty. We're eager to enter the next phase of life so much so, that we don't appreciate where we're at in the moment. As we age and mature, a lot of the harsh realities of life make us forget what really matters. Additionally, enjoying fictitious worlds and personalities don't come to a crashing halt during adulthood. Quite the opposite: if adults didn't tune in to hit shows on television, there would be no hit television shows!

Shows, in the general sense of the world, are overwhelmingly false (even some Reality show antics prove to be scripted). But isn't that what makes us follow every episode weekly? It's a form of escapism, to peer into the lives of others. Some are curious, some are looking for a good laugh, and some just simply want to forget things happening in their own lives. When the average person goes to work, chances are slim to none that they're greeted by a humorous workforce or overzealous boss as seen in 'The Office.' Not every suburban neighborhood populated with housewives mimic the lives of those desperate ones on Wisteria Lane. The average nurse or Doctor is not involved in scandals, rivalries, or love triangles like 'Grey's Anatomy.' While it isn't an impossibility like things seen in children's shows, it still remains a work of fiction. Life's purpose is to learn as much as you can and make your own decisions and judgements along the way. It's inevitable that children will grow up and learn that life is not like their favorite morning cartoon. Will it be disappointing? Absolutely. But disappointment fades and is placed by the growing curiosity to learn more about what the next phase of life has in store.

Learn more about this author, Raquel Arnold.
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