If I could go back 23 years, I would probably try to do my best to keep a television out of my house completely. Since, I can’t go back in time and because my family would probably get rid of me before getting rid of the TV, my kids do spend time watching television. I should be embarrassed to admit it, but I often find myself watching kids programs along with my kids and even chuckling at things that are obviously aimed at the adult audience.
I’m a big advocate of learning from anything that life sends your way. So it makes perfect sense that I find life lessons everywhere, even in kids TV programs.
I have learned quite a few good lessons from Phineas & Ferb.
I pride myself on being an involved parent, yet I’m sure that there is much that goes on with my kids that I don’t know about. Yes, there are times when I will surprise them by being aware of something they did that they thought they kept a big secret.
If I had to guess though, there’s probably more that I don’t know than I do know.
One of the big problems that I find with kids growing up in this day and age is that their entertainment is often passive. They watch TV and they play on the computer.
When kids are left to their own devices to entertain themselves, they find very creative ways to occupy their time. They dream, they invent, they play and they create.
One of the things that I love about Phineas & Ferb is how close they are. They complement each other and they look out for each other.
Way too often we see the things we do for others but we don’t realize that sometimes they do even more for us. Like the way everyone thinks Perry the platypus is just a pet when he’s really a secret agent who saves the world over and over. Some people are just underappreciated.
There’s no wonder that Phineas & Ferb’s big sister Candice is constantly frustrated. She spends her days being a tattletale. No wonder no one believes her. (Even though in this case, they should.)
I love the way Phineas & Ferb get their friends involved in their escapades. They not only don’t keep the fun to themselves, their have even more fun because they are sharing their projects with their friends.
For some people a short term goal is enough, others favor long term goals. Whatever it is, we need to know that we are moving in some forward direction towards something. Even if it’s just doing something creative with your day, like Phineas & Ferb’s daily creations.
Phineas & Ferb are multi-talented. They not only invent but they also play instruments, they like animals, they have no problem speaking in front of crowds and so on. If your kid (or you) shows interest in something, they should try it out and experiment with something new.
Kids grow into trustworthy adults when you show them that you trust them and you give them responsibility. Candice is constantly being trusted to babysit Phineas & Ferb.
Too many kids are being overprotected and bubble-wrapped by anxious parents who want to keep their kids safe from any harm. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for and in order for them to grow and learn, they need to experience things both good and bad, both failures and successes.
Poor Dr. Heniz Doofenshmirtz. All the plans he hatches are all because he wants to be loved and to belong.
Whether it’s an adult or a kid, many times when someone has done something wrong, if you look at the underlying reason or motive you will see that it was just someone trying to feel loved or trying to belong.
We don’t live in a bubble. A lot of what we do is to meet challenges set by people and events around us. Each of us needs to find someone who can challenge us to do our best.
I think Phineas & Ferb is a great example of how kids television program producers do try to work educational lessons into their shows. The best learning is done through fun and when someone doesn’t realize they are learning.
What TV programs have you learned something from?
Featured image courtesy of Loren Javier licensed via Creative Commons.
http://www.newdaynewlesson.com
Susie is a wife, mother of 5, blogger, RN (ER & Oncology) and a creative jack of many trades. Her passion is helping and connecting with people and she does her best to learn something new each day. Susie lives in Israel after having emigrated there half a life ago.
OK, I am glad that I am oblivious when it comes to children's TV programming. I think it would drive me nuts. However, I love the lessons you gleaned from this show -- so much better since I can simply share this post versus do the "research" by watching the show!
Totally agree on taking people for granted...and gotta have goals!
This is great! My girls just discovered P&F...mostly Agent P...last week while we were at Disney. It's all we've heard since we returned. Now I don't feel so bad about them watching it constantly.
A bit lost on me since I've never seen Phineas and Ferb. :) But I love how you find lessons in everything and the lessons are true even if I've never seen the show. Except the tattletale one. I don't get that - never did. Maybe you can enlighten me. Why do we make such a big deal about tattling being bad? Why are we trying to teach our kids that if you see someone doing something wrong you should NOT tell?? And then when they are teenagers and don't report bullying or drugs, etc we are amazed that they don't say anything. But that's what we're teaching them - that they should let people get away with doing things that are wrong. And then what if someone does something horrible to them? We are teaching them NOT to tell an adult! Wtf? How confusing is that message! Can someone explain this to me, because everyone seems to agree about this except for me.
@DevorahS Hopefully, I can give a bit of insight into the tattletale issue. Only because I've also questioned the validity of teaching kids not to tell.
When our daughter was young I noticed a tendency in some of her friends to tell on others with the glee of getting someone else in trouble. It was as if they derived some kind of joy in seeing others suffer.
Therefore we came up with a rule for our daughter. The rule was, if you see someone doing something which will hurt them or others come tell immediately. If the thing they are doing is not going to hurt them or someone else but you are uncomfortable then just leave them alone and go do something else.
The good part about the rule is that if the kids tell, you know it is important. Of course, this rule only works when the kids are old enough to understand the concepts involved in some things leading to disaster and others to nothing.
I just discovered that one of my favorite comedy writer's enjoys this show. That is a lot of cred. I haven't seen an episode, but I know it is on netflix.
I like Yo Gabba Gabba though, almost all my favorite indie artists have been featured in episodes.
@susansilver You should watch a few episodes. Phineas and Ferb are just so good hearted even to their sister who is always trying to get them in trouble.
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Susie this is a fun post. Yep, I find that my grandmother eyes are sometimes drawn to the antics of Phineas and Ferb. You've captured the lessons well.
@Yvonne Root Thanks. I think I enjoy some of the kids shows more than my kids because there is quite a bit of tongue in cheek humor in them.
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@newdaynewlesson @Yvonne Root Yes, Susie. You are right. And, look back at the "old" cartoons and you will see the same thing. There are many things that happen in some of those bits of fun which soar over the heads of the kids and smack their parents (and grandparents) right in the face. :)
@rosemaryoneill You are right, the music in the show is pretty good.
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