I was flipping through the TV channels one night when I noticed a very familiar show. It was Rugrats. Of course, I had to turn it on because that show was crucial during my childhood. Memories raced through my head as I recalled my favorite moments from the show. Tommy was always my favorite because he was a fearless leader.
When the show concluded, I began wondering about the other shows I watched as a kid. There was Rocket Power, Hey Arnold!, Doug, Kenon & Kel, and Drake and Josh. Of course, that was just Nickelodeon. Who could forget the Disney shows? Even Stevens, Recess, Phil of the Future, and The Jersey. (If you do not remember that show I recommend looking on YouTube for it)
All these shows were clever and funny but most of all they taught kids life lessons. I look at today's shows and I wonder what happened to them. It seems now all the shows care about is trying to get kids to become singers and pop stars. Not that I think it is a bad career choice but there is so much more to life. What happens if a kid gets bullied, are they going to sing their way out of it just like the current shows tell them to do? They need to be taught how to face adversity head on and stand up for themselves.
One of my personal favorite lessons came from Hey Arnold! It was the episode when the neighborhood bullies the "Stoop Kid" because he never comes outside to hang out with them. Arnold feels sorry for the kid and tries to encourage him to come out and play. But Stoop Kid says that he is fine with being by himself. Even though deep down he is in fact very lonely. Arnold finally gets Stoop to open up. Stoop finally steps out and plays stickball with the neighborhood kids.
This lesson is that everyone needs a friend that they can open up to. It also taught me that we don't have to be alone in the world. The world is willing to help you, it just depends on if you want to open up or not.
Now, not all of today's shows for kids are bad. Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie are two shows that focus on the importance of being a family. Unfortunately, those shows are no longer on the air.
If kids could just see the shows that our generation grew up with, I think the appreciation level would skyrocket. But this isn't the kids fault. Like I stated earlier, the shows are focused on trying to make kids pop stars. And they are so focused on trying to outdo each show that they start to run together. It comes off as unoriginal and stale. We need more original ideas like the football-shaped blockhead Arnold who can teach people of all ages some valuable lessons
