The value of children's programming: Stanley Fernandes

We all have strong memories of shows we watched as kids; shows that have inspired us or simply entertained us. Some shows have impacted our minds and given us that ‘moment of lift’ as Melinda Gates would put it, or as Oprah Winfrey would say that ‘aha’ moment - a moment of awe and curiosity. We have had revelatory learnings from these instances and that’s the best quality kids programmes have. They are all about creating an impressionable educational awakening. There are lessons to be learnt from young kids’ shows that go beyond academics and edutainment. Often there are many lessons to be learnt in the narrative of the programme, but it’s an underlying theme that can make the deepest impression on the way we live our lives. Drawing inspiration, here are few shows from the CBeebies line-up that could teach us some valuable life lessons.

Learn about teamwork and family relationships from the BAFTA awarded show ‘The Clangers.’ Not far from Earth in the starry stretches of space live the Clangers on a little blue planet. They are pink, long-nosed, inventive mouse-shaped creatures who reside under the surface of their planet. As they navigate their world, they're presented with dilemmas they must solve using whistles and other sounds to communicate. This show is all about extending a supporting hand, about cooperation and compassion. It teaches us about the importance of family and being there for each other.

A distinctive feature of this show is the whistling noises that the Clangers use to communicate with each other. Learning about sound as a means of communication is a powerful medium. The ‘cognitive revolution’ gave humans the ability to process data and communicate through language. The animal kingdom on the other hand lived in dual reality of objective feeling -, that of their environment - and subjective feelings such as fear, hunger and reproduction. The only way to bridge the two was by emitting sounds. This is something we also learnt to do as infants through cries and gurgles of laughter.

Learn how to take on challenges from the Emmy and BAFTA awarded show ‘Hey Duggee.’ Duggee is a big friendly dog who runs The Squirrel Club - a place where kids take part in fun outdoor activities and earn activity badges along the way. While the show emphasises learning through play, the underlining virtues are of being patient and persevering. It’s about overcoming challenges and celebrating moments of success, for a job well done. The show also highlights the importance of nurturing a relationship with a mentor for that much needed guidance, even though in this case, it may come from an adorable furry scout leader, Duggee.

In Hey Duggee, the badges received for a task completed symbolise more than just a ceremonial award. It lets you know that you have reached the end of an algorithmic process and a continuum to the next level. That’s why stories begin with ‘once upon a time’ to provide a perspective and a beginning and conclude with ‘the end.’

Learn about inclusivity and diversity from ‘Yakka Dee’. Yakka Dee is a fun, high energy picture book using a mixture of animation and live action to help teach young children new words while boosting their self-esteem and social confidence. Don’t be beguiled by Dee’s ‘yakky yak’ as she keeps repeating a word which may come across as flippant to us grownups. The show creates a safe haven for kids to learn. It portrays a diverse group of real-life kids who often need a little extra help in verbalising a word. It is about empowering them by respecting and appreciating what makes them different, in terms of age, gender, personalities and their cultures. Important insights for us all!

Historian Yuval Noah Harari talks about relationships between globalisation and human diversity and how history is moving relentlessly towards unity and it couldn’t be more evident in today’s pandemic scenario. Inclusivity and diversity promotes and nurtures perspectives accepting of differences in culture, experience, and values.

Learn about creative problem solving from ‘Go Jetters’. Superheroes travel the world in an attempt to learn more about man-made and natural landmarks and also save them from their resident villain who is attempting to destroy them. These four superheroes along with their teacher depend upon each other for their skills and talent, teaching us about the virtues of collaborating to surmount difficult problems. That camaraderie and communication is key, and everyone can contribute towards the collective good and more importantly about being resilient. After all isn’t ‘resilience’ the new superpower?

We all need our anti-heroes; while Grandmaster Glitch from Go Jetters may not be gargoyle scary, anti-heroes give us dimension. They keep us grounded and aware of our privileges. They keep us true to the values of truth, justice and equality, after all the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

As Whitney Houston sang, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way”, it is with this certitude that we live our lives hoping for a fabulous future.

CBeebies is available on Tata Sky-DTH, Sun Direct-DTH, IMCL Cable & Hits, Fastway Cable, and UCN Network Cable.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views of exchange4media.com.