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Show YOU, YOUR CHILD, AND TV: ! TELEVISION CAN BE USED AS A TRUE TEACHING AID I By Barbara Frengel Reeves (Editor's Note: This is one of a series by a professional observer ob-server of children's TV viewing habits. The author is assistant as-sistant director of research for The Children s Television Workshop, creators of "Sesame Street," the new series ae-siciert ae-siciert to help prepare pre-schoolers for formal education. The show is seen each weekday on Channel 7.) Helping your child with his schoolwork often seems hopeless? hope-less? You don't understand the new math yourself, and how can anyone keep all those emerging nations straight? Here is where television has the advantage. It is as available avail-able to you as to your youngster. young-ster. It offers limitless opportunities op-portunities for learning. First, find out your child's favorite programs. Don't depend de-pend on him for an answer because he's likely to mention the first one he thinks of which might be the one he has just seen or the one coming on next. Check out what he really looks for and really watches during the week. Those are his favorites. When you find tbam, sit down with him. As the two of you watch together, try to find out what he's geting out of these programs. Once he gets over the initial shock of your being there, he'll begin to share his thoughts with you. i Use these programs as a springboard for daily activities. activi-ties. For example, if he talks about the pig on "Green Acres" use this opportunity to teach him more about animals. If he thrills at the Batmobile, teach him about cars. You don't have to be a mechanic to know the difference between a convertible and a station wagon. The producers of "Sesame Street" are publishing a Parent-Teacher Parent-Teacher Guide each month to help parents who are interested interest-ed in doing follow-up activities with their children. It is available avail-able through your local educational edu-cational TV station or by sending send-ing $2 to Guide, Box 9140, St. Paul, Minn. 55177. Even without the guide, there are many simple things you can do on your own. Encourage your child to find various channels himself. Locating Lo-cating Channel2, or 13, or whatever, is a painless way to help him learn his numbers. Time is another concept that TV can make more understandable understand-able to a young mind. Your child probably has a good idea of when his programs are on the air. Perhaps he'll describe one as "Right before Casper" When he does, relate this to the hour. Say, "That's right, Casper is on at 5:30 and Batman Bat-man comes on at 6 o'clock. Here's (where the hands will be on the clock when Batman comes on." Perhaps the most important use you can make of television is to encourage your child to express himself. Get him to tell you about a program ha watched. If it has an intricate plot be prepared for a nonstop non-stop onslaught! Ask him questions about the program. What did Beaver do next? Why do you like Captain Cap-tain Kangaroo? What does Flipper eat? Television is similar to other activities you share with you" child. As you become trior.; involved in the things that interest in-terest and attract him, you'll find out more about him. This is one of the rewards of being a parent. Next: The TV Zombie and Addict: Do you have one? |