i completely agree kids should do more active stuff and i wish i could let me kids do more personally but its not possible at the moment i have 3 kids aged 3, 2 and 2 months old i live in a fflat my kids cant go outside without being supervised and having a newborn, tv is a god send to be honest seeing as i choose appropriate educating programmes im guessing its not too bad as their learning while im busy trying to keep up with housework and the newborn baby and my wifly duties around the house, i always make sure they go to the park or play out for 1 - 2 solid hours if the weather is apropriate but we have a sheltered area they can play out too on bikes so they are not becoming couch potatoes, if i lived in a house with a garden truth be told the back door will always be open and they would be out all day for as long as they want to be there as they love being outside , so sometimes you just have to make best of what you got and be happy that you are trying very hard to give them everything they need physically emotionally and mentally cos it aint easy being indoors with 3 kids that have the energy of a leopard, im new in the are and from another part of the country so i dont have my family and friends here to help and go to have a change of scenary so its just me my husband and 3 kids all day and all night long (my husband works so its basically me thats with them all day all night)

get the full dstv bouquet

ceebeebies and disney junior only for the kids

cartoon network is crap for kids, mindless entertainment

.....

cartoons shown on cartoon network cant match the cartoons i watched on our local stations as a kid

This is an interesting topic. Especially as I love cartoons and I'm part of a production team that's recently released a new Nigerian educational cartoon for kids. I had this same discussion with a friend of mine last night who is a father. Getting the balance right is tough as a parent is tough. First of all getting the right T.V./reading/physical activity balance. Then when children do watch T.V. what type of programmes do they watch? It's not easy.

Very interesting topic... Ever watch "2 stupid dogs" ? i had to ban that one in my house because i don't want my children behaving like idiots...huh

I had to seive out the cartoons and shows as they grew older. I discovered that even show meant for preteens really isnt the right stuff if you want your kids uncorrupted. Adventure Time in Nikolodeon has been banned in my house. It is really annoying the way they introduce these subtel sexaul undertones to so many of their cartoons and shows. Yes its a reality of life but for goodness sake what is an 8 yr old watching ICarly learning by watching all the smooching and stuff every day?

Matter of fact, lets steer our kids to reading good stuff and we will see a better generation emerge.

If you don't want your child doing "extreme superman stunts", or just want him/her to watch something age appropriate, Get Netflix or find out what channel The Hub is on. They can watch tons of kid friendly shows such as (a favorite of mine) My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. The first two seasons were made by Lauren Faust who is an amazing writer, and the next two seasons are just as good. If you wan't, you can even sit down and watch it with them. It teaches important life lessons about Friendship, Love, and Toleration. It is greatly animated, amazing voice acting (Tara Strong just to name one), and it's funny. There are even some references to famous movies like Star Wars and many others. I do watch this show every time it has been on, and it has brought no negativity to my life. So there's my advice, take it or leave it.

My kids always feel am being wicked by not allowing them watch carton network, the violence is even more than some adult channels. Some schools even instruct parents not to allow their kids watch it becos the kids come to school to practice what they have seen.

zaliya:
Powerpuff girls, Ed, Edd and Eddy, Samurai Jack, Camp Lazlo, ,

My son thinks the characters in these Cartoons are real!

He just got back from the orthopedics after jumping and breaking his elbow joint.

Pls share your experiences on what this has done to you children (Positively or negatively)

Tanks

make him watch cartoons like Dora the explorer, there are much more educative.