by Sharon Copeland

Created on: November 18, 2009

Children's programming sure has changed since I was a kid. I used to look forward to getting up on a Saturday morning and watching shows that were fun and exciting. I loved to solve mysteries with Scooby and the gang and H.R. Puffenstuff would help me learn courage and honor. Saturday mornings were full of cartoons that any child could enjoy. Now there is very little for children's little eyes to wake up to on Saturday. The only thing the programs today seem to want to teach our kids are how to burp, have gas or be selfish. Now where is the entertainment in that?

Children's shows and video games contain more violence than any child should be subjected to at such a young age. They get used to watching their favorite characters be mean to others or cheat or steal whatever they want. They start to think this is normal behavior and see nothing wrong with going to school and mimicking that same behavior. I think it is necessary for us to monitor what our kids watch very carefully. Try to view it from their eyes and perspective. How would it affect us if we were young and innocent?

It is hard to tell your child that they aren't allowed to watch certain shows, especially if it is a very popular show with their friends. However, I feel that this is something we must enforce if the show is really something that is not good for the child to see. If we all stand together and stop allowing this type of programming into our homes maybe things will change. As long as the writers think this is what everyone wants to see they will continue to provide substandard shows for our kids.

I want my children to grow up and love and respect others. I limit the time they spend watching television and we spend a lot of time talking about shows they watch if I think they have questions about what they have seen. Some kids do spend more time than they should in front of the television. I would like to see programming go back to the way it used to be. Fun, entertaining, full of good messages and lessons for young impressionable children. As far as that goes, a little of that could go into the adult shows that are out there too. What is wrong with a little love and respect and less burps and gas?

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