"Duh" was my friend Sandy's response to my news, hot off the press.
Sandy's an educator, and she usually uses nouns and verbs and whole sentences. So I got the message, very clearly, that I was wasting her time.
I'd phoned her to let her know that PBS Kids emerged as the most educational media brand when compared with Leapfrog, Nick, Jr., Playhouse Disney, Noggin, Discovery Kids, National Geographic Kids, KOL (AOL for Kids), YahooKids and others.
"I could have told you that," Sandy said.
Instead, the finding came from a Roper Survey by the non-partisan international research company which interviewed more than a thousand randomly selected American adults.
Those surveyed also agreed that PBS leads the rest of the industry--including those in cable and commercial broadcast--in helping children realize their potential and get them ready for success in school and life.
"Plus," my friend Sandy pointed out, "you guys don't load the kids up with visions of expensive sugary cereals and overpriced gadgets because you don't interrupt the shows with commercials."
I became acquainted with Sandy in working on a Hawaii school-supplies charity project in which we met a number of Micronesian immigrants whose toddlers were learning to speak English from PBS children's programming. In fact, the mothers told us through interpreters that they were counting on their children to do well in school and then teach their parents to speak English.
Sandy's parting words in our phone conversation: "You called to tell me PBS Kids shows are the best? Next time, tell me something I DON'T know."
OK, then.
Having two kids, I too appreciate that the kids are not being loaded with sugary advertising.
Aloha,
Keahi
Posted by: Keahi Pelayo | June 25, 2009 at 09:30 AM