Some of the goals I would hope for children’s television would include teaching:

• Basic language skills. Vocabulary, how to pronounce words properly, proper grammar.
• Elements of ethical behaviour and empathy.
• Modelling appropriate behaviour for both children and adults.
• Music appreciation, exposing children to a variety of musical genres.
• Encouragement in creative play, such as dance, singing, painting, crafts, drama, outdoor games.
• Avoiding dangerous situations.
• Basic life skills such as how to send a letter, how to buy something, how to save, selecting a sensible diet, how to summon help in an emergency.
• Fostering curiosity about science, biology, other languages, life in other countries, history, government etc.

But what do we get? Puppets and adults in animal costumes behaving like drooling idiots, using atrocious grammar and pronunciation, singing mindless songs composed by a cat. This applies even to the “best” shows like Sesame Street. One of the the few exceptions is the Backyardigans which is careful about pronuciation, grammar and ethics. It exposes children to many musical styles in a simplified form, but one that does not insult their intelligence.
~ Roedy (born: 1948-02-04 age: 61)