This study examines parents' and children's reaction to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to limit children's television (TV) viewing to 2 hours a day or less. To better understand the challenges faced by parents who would seek to adhere to the guidelines, we conducted qualitative small group interviews with 60 parent/child dyads…

This paper describes a multi-media outreach campaign intended to increase children's knowledge of engineering and to improve the public image of the profession. The central element is a reality-based show entitled "Design Squad," whose first season was broadcast on public television stations beginning in the spring of 2007. The show was…

Our paper deals with the relationship between sustainability, media advertisements and their effect on children. This topic is highly actual today, as the children of today, who grow up in front of the TV will be the consumers of tomorrow. The perpetual growth of consuming and gathering material goods is not serving the sustainable development.…

Sampled 106 children's television cartoons to determine the nature and extent of material on aging. Results indicated that although old age is not a dominant theme, the topic is typically framed in negative terms with a potential to reinforce dominant cultural stereotypes. (JAC)

Children viewed videotapes of "Sesame Street" characters discussing the sex appropriateness of some toys. In free play, the children chose toys identified as sex appropriate over a comparison group of toys not shown in the videotapes, but chose the comparison toys over videotaped toys identified as inappropriate for their sex. (Author/MJL)

Examined the cultural basis and relevance of "Zhima Jie," a Chinese adaptation of "Sesame Street." Found that most of 3- to 6-year-olds in the sample desired books and learning materials, with disadvantaged children more likely than more advantaged children to desire books and learning materials. Older children showed a greater…

This study of the capacity of television to influence children's attitudes and behavior towards other racial groups examined children's playmate preference after viewing racially integrated television programs. Testing for delayed effects and generalization of effects extended previous work in the area. (JVP)

This report summarizes the present state of knowledge about the effects of television advertising on children. After a discussion of children's television viewing patterns, the report reviews the existing research relevant to such issues as children's ability to distinguish commercials from program material; the influence of format and audiovisual…

Provides examples from a study of six test segments of the television series "Alam Simsim," the Egyptian "Sesame Street," to illustrate how a systematic analysis of children's artwork can be used with other research tools to gain feedback from children. Shows how formative research is used to bring children into the production…

This study investigated the standards children between 9 and 12 years of age use to evaluate the quality of four types of children's programs: news, educational, dramatic, and cartoons. The quality standards children considered most important were comprehensibility and aesthetic quality. Additional standards were entertainment, involvement,…

A content analysis of television programs presented during times likely to have high proportions of children in the audience indicated that entertainment programs contain messages about the political system which are often negative or inaccurate. (Author/MER)

This study compares two animated programs set in prehistoric times, "Cro" (an educational program about technology) and "The Flintstones" (a noneducational program). Results indicated that Cro's technology content was salient to children but children did not distinguish between the programs on the basis of their educational…

Research on television's influence on children's behaviors, both aggressive and prosocial, is discussed. (AM)

This study of children's understanding of commercial audio and video network techniques which are designed to communicate the balanced breakfast concept indicates that children show a general lack of concept understanding. Thirteen references are cited. (Author/MER)

Studies were conducted with more than 10,000 children to determine the types of programing most popular with that audience, their attitudes towards science, and the techniques that maximize the appeal and comprehensibility of science material on television. Research results guided the development of the new PBS series, 3-2-1 Contact. (MER)