Children's Television Programs Research Articles

Examining the Authenticity of Autistic Portrayals in US Adult and Children's Television Shows Using Medical and Social Models of Disability.

Television programs have introduced viewers to characters on the autism spectrum (e.g., Sesame Street, The Good Doctor), impacting audiences' knowledge and attitudes. Thus, it is essential that character representations convey accurate health information. This study explores how autistic portrayals across six adult and children's television programs align with the medical (e.g., American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., text rev., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 ) and social models of disability. A content analysis methodology was used to investigate defining characteristics of autism (i.e., medical model) and how characters navigated their environment (i.e., social model) in 252 scenes (across six characters in 22 episodes). Measures included the frequency with which autism characteristics (e.g., social-communicative difficulties, restrictive repetitive behaviors) were present across autistic portrayals and the valence (e.g., positive, negative, neutral) with which characters interacted with their environment (e.g., character and neurodiversity affirming valence). Findings indicate that (a) television portrayals depict social-communication difficulties significantly more than behavioral characteristics, (b) children's programming portrays autistic characters with significantly more positive personal attributes (i.e., character valence) than adult programs, and (c) the majority of programs portray characters navigating autism in positive or neutral ways (i.e., neurodiversity affirming valence). Results offer stakeholders (e.g., writers, advocates, neurodiverse community) insight into how autistic characters are portrayed on television, adding to a growing body of literature examining how such representations impact public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards individuals on the autism spectrum. Collectively, such studies highlight how changes in diagnostic criteria, legal protections, and social inclusivity are presented to viewers, who are seeking entertainment but gaining public health information.

‘|Y]oung Hamlet’

Abstract Shakespeare's Hamlet has been retold in children's versions several times in Sweden in recent years. It was the subject of the first episode of the children's television programme På teatern [At the Theatre], written and directed by Christina Nilsson for SVT in 2001–2002, where Shakespearean actors meet their child or grandchild backstage after a performance to tell and partly enact the story of the play. In 2005–2006, Lotta Grut wrote the plays Lille Hamlett och spöket [Little Hamlett and the Ghost] and Offelia kom igen! [Offelia Come Again!] for the theatre company Unga Roma. In these fairy-tale versions, the children Hamlet and Ophelia are confronted with death, grief, anger, oppression and erasure. This article argues that the På teatern episode is an adaptation of Hamlet while Grut's two plays are appropriations.

Designing a Website-Based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Decision Support Systems (DSS) for Parental Control of Children's Media

The massive amount of children's television programming poses a challenge for parents seeking to mediate suitable viewing habits. This research puts forward a website-based Decision Support System (DSS) leveraging Analytic Hierarchy Process to recommend appropriate shows per personalized criteria. The DSS allows parents to set priorities across factors like educational value, empathy, and social norms reflected in shows. Quantitative AHP methodology ranks options by synthesizing comparative judgments. A prototype is implemented on PHP/MySQL with an intuitive interface explaining decision logic. Testing with parent focus groups indicates significantly increased perceived utility over traditional controls. Recommendation accuracy metrics averaged 0.81 against test cases. Outcomes demonstrate feasibility and benefits of applying multi-criteria DSS techniques to aid value-based media selection for impressionable minds. The system aims to aid busy caregivers overwhelmed by the exponential growth in media choices, promoting discerning consumption. Further enhancements incorporating explanatory facilities and predictive analytics promises wider applicability inside content distribution ecosystems. This research highlights the importance of DSS-AHP integration for child development in the modern information age.

Digital employment of education data in children's television programmes

The communication inspiration formed an essential foundations for contribute the influence individuals and recipients, whether negatively or positively, through the messages that were published and presented in them with multiple themes and viewpoints that covered all parts of the world and all age groups; it is directed to children addressing the various stages of childhood, as it simulates many goals, including what is directed through the digital use of educational data in television production, as it is considered an intellectual and mental bag to deliver ideas and expressive and aesthetic connotations to children, where the songs and cartoons carrying data on education; within adjacent relations and in a mutual direction, both of them support each other to achieve meaning and awareness. So that, the foregoing, the researcher has taken to delving into the folds of this title and its axes in a group of horizons and depth in its contents in terms of content and form; also, the exposure to the system of educational values in education and the age groups of children, as well as a review of the digital use of educational data in children's television programs and the method of technical treatment of them; the research aims to study the subject in its aspects, and from this point of view, the researcher formulated the research problem to launch his study with the following question; what are the technical and digital uses and treatments of education data in television production, and since it aims to reveal the employment of digital employment of educational data in children’s television programmes, the approach was adopted for descriptive (content analysis) being more appropriate to achieve the goals and reach the desired results, among which lies the plurality of contents and educational values in the children’s television program from the production of data that contribute to the establishment of education through digital software to produce an expressive, semantic and aesthetic level.

Sally Lucas Jean, R.N. (1878-1971): Her historical legacy and lessons for contemporary public health nursing education.

Sally Lucas Jean, RN (1878-1971) pioneered health education in the United States and globally. At the time of her death in 1971, aged 93, her legacy included serving on boards of leading American health associations, spearheading public health projects worldwide and transforming thinking on contemporary public health education. Sally Lucas Jean's influence continues today, from her input on educational children's television programs, policies on child health and her involvement in developing the early foundations of health communication. In this historical reflection, we examine her role in defining health education and communication, alongside influencing and applying strategies to improve public health nursing.

A survey of violence and vulgarity in children television programs: a content analysis, and assessment of perceptions of parents and children (ViCTiM study)

Abstract Objectives: To quantify the depiction of violence and vulgarity in television programmes for children, and to assess the perception and practices of parents and children about television programmes meant for children. Methods:  We conducted this mixed-methods cross-sectional study in Karachi, Pakistan in the months of August-September 2018, after approval from the ethics review board of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. First, a content analysis of over 102 hours of various television programmes meant for children was performed in the light of the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation, the United States Federal Communication Commission and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Seven trained researchers sampled the children prime time throughout a week, including the weekends, using a structured tally sheet. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with dyad of parent-children from the employees’ list of a public-sector university. A questionnaire was also administered to assess the practices and perceptions of the parents-children dyad about the programmes.  Data was analysed using SPSS 24. Results: Of the 173 subjects, 84(48.6%) were parents and 89(51.4%) were children. The mean age of the children was 89 children 9.8±3.7 years. Content analysis comprised 6130 minutes, of which 5442(88.8%) had depictions of violence and vulgarity. Depiction of violence and vulgarity was prevalent on television channels that were watched the most, but there was no significant difference in this regard (p=0.238). Of the parents, 68(81%) expressed concern over the effect of screen time and content on the mental health of their children.

An analysis of food and beverage advertising on bus shelters in a deprived area of Northern England.

To quantify the extent of food and beverage advertising on bus shelters in a deprived area of the UK, to identify the healthfulness of advertised products, and any differences by level of deprivation. The study also sought to assess the creative strategies used and extent of appeal to young people. Images of bus shelter advertisements were collected via in person photography (in 2019) and Google Street View (photos recorded in 2018). Food and beverage advertisements were grouped into one of seventeen food categories and classified as healthy/less healthy using the UK Nutrient Profile Model. The deprivation level of the advertisement location was identified using the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation. Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland in South Teesside. N/A. Eight hundred and thirty-two advertisements were identified, almost half (48·9 %) of which were for foods or beverages. Of food and non-alcoholic beverage adverts, 35·1 % were less healthy. Most food advertisements (98·9 %) used at least one of the persuasive creative strategies. Food advertisements were found to be of appeal to children under 18 years of age (71·9 %). No differences in healthiness of advertised foods were found by level of deprivation. Food advertising is extensive on bus shelters in parts of the UK, and a substantial proportion of this advertising is classified as less healthy and would not be permitted to be advertised around television programming for children. Bus shelter advertising should be considered part of the UK policy deliberations around restricting less healthy food marketing exposure.

La historia de Zamba

El artículo analiza valoraciones del producto audiovisual La asombrosa excursión de Zamba, impulsado por el Ministerio de Educación argentino durante el período 2010- 2015 y con circulación aun en 2016. El estudio se enmarca en una investigación sobre la circulación del programa de televisión infantil. Focaliza en la exploración de las mediaciones comunicacionales que se establecen en relación con los significados históricos, ideológicos, políticos, estéticos. A partir de situar la indagación en la circulación, se analizan algunas valoraciones de la prensa digital y de docentes de CABA sobre los modos narrativos y estéticos del producto.

Are the Italian Children Exposed to Advertisements of Nutritionally Appropriate Foods?

Unhealthy eating habits are one of the main risk factors for overweight/obesity, and food marketing plays a major role in their development. The aim of this study was to monitor the amount and the characteristics of food marketing directed to Italian children broadcasted on television (TV). The WHO tool to assess food and beverage multimedia marketing aimed at children was used to analyze TV recordings. Type of product branded, viewing time, channel’s target, and broadcasting company were the exposure variables analyzed. The power of persuasive techniques was also assessed. Food products were categorized as either core or non-core products on the basis of their nutritional profile. A total of 320 h of TV broadcasting was analyzed, including 51.7 h of commercials. Food and beverages were the second most frequently advertised products, with an average of 6 food advertisements per hour during peak viewing time. A total of 23.8% of food advertisements were recorded during the time slot of 3:00 p.m. Considering food and beverage commercials, “humor” was the most frequently used primary persuasive technique, while the “image of the product/packaging” was the most commonly used secondary persuasive technique. Products specifically targeted to children were 94.3% non-core. Our findings indicate that core foods are highly underrepresented in TV commercials, especially during children TV programs and peak viewing time.

The role of children's television programs in developing values for kindergarten child from the teachers’ point of view

هدفت الدراسة إلى الکشف عن دور البرامج التليفزيونية الخاصة بالأطفال في تنمية قيم أطفال الروضة من وجهة نظر المعلمات وفقا للمتغيرات (القيم الدينية ، القيم العلمية ، القيم الوطنية). استخدمت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي. يتکون مجتمع الدراسة من 160 معلمة. تم اختيار عينة الدراسة عشوائيا ، والتي تتکون من (60) معلمة يمثلون (37،5٪) من مجتمع الدراسة. صممت الباحثة استبانة واستخدمتها کأداة للدراسة. توصلت الدراسة إلى النتائج التالية: 1. البرامج التليفزيونية للأطفال لها دور متوسط ​​في تنمية قيم أطفال الروضة من وجهة نظر المعلمات في مدينة بور سودان (64.73٪). 2. برامج تلفزيون الأطفال لها دور متوسط ​​في تنمية القيم العلمية لطفل الروضة في بورتسودان من وجهة نظر المعلمات. 3. هناک دور مهم للبرامج التلفزيونية للأطفال في تنمية القيم الدينية لأطفال الروضة من وجهة نظر المعلمات. 4. هناک دور صغير لبرامج الأطفال التلفزيونية في تطوير القيم الوطنية لأطفال الروضة في بورتسودان من وجهة نظر المعلمات. من خلال نتائج الدراسة ، توصى الباحثة بالترکيز على اختيار برامج الأطفال التي تحاکي الشخصية الإيجابية ، مما يدل على التعاون والتسامح بين الأطفال والتوجيه نحو السلوک الجيد.

Regulating children's exposure to food marketing on television: are the restrictions during children's programmes enough?

Due to rising global rates of childhood obesity, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the adoption of policies to restrict children's exposure to the advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages. In 2017, the Slovenian government introduced regulations to restrict the advertisement of unhealthy foods and beverages during designated children's television programming. The objective of our study was to assess the impact of these regulations on children's exposure to food advertising, including during children's programmes and at peak viewing times for children. Using a standardised methodology, we investigated a large sample of 6479 food advertisements broadcast during 1652 h of television programming between 2016 and 2018 on the five most popular television channels for children aged 4–9 years. Advertised food products were coded using the WHO Regional Office for Europe Nutrient Profile Model, modified for Slovenia. The average overall frequency of not permitted (unhealthy) food advertising (±SD; standard deviation) per hour was 2.90 ± 3.22 (2016), 2.66 ± 3.55 (2017), or 2.13 ± 3.04 (2018) ads/h/channel. The frequency of not permitted food ads decreased to 0.02 ± 0.01 per h/channel during cartoons and other children's programmes in 2018. The new Slovenian food marketing regulations have reduced the advertising of unhealthy foods during children's programmes. However, children's viewership rates are also high outside of this designated programming and, as such, children's overall exposure to unhealthy food advertising is unlikely to have been reduced considerably by the regulations. Future policy interventions should be planned to cover not only children's programmes but also broadcasting periods that include the greatest numbers of child viewers. The implementation of such policies would be more challenging given that children's peak viewing times often intersect with prime time.

“Eu Quis Comer Você”

A partir da presença de um roqueiro gaúcho num programa televisivo infantil, propomos debater possibilidades teórico-metodológicas dos Estudos de Performance na análise de produtos da televisão. As noções de roteiro e quadro performático (Taylor, 2013) são subsídios para tratar o encontro entre a banda Os Cascavelletes e a apresentadora Angélica no Clube da Criança, na TV Manchete, como a performance em torno do estranhamento da figura do gaúcho jovem, urbano e roqueiro, no contexto midiático dos anos 1980 no Brasil. Carnavalização e fantasia integram princípios norteadores da teatralização desse encontro que ficou marcado na memória de integrantes da cena musical roqueira de Porto Alegre.

Too Cool for School: Examining Portrayals of Academics in Children's Television Programming

Too Cool for School: Examining Portrayals of Academics in Children's Television Programming

Too Cool for School: Examining Portrayals of Academics in Children's Television Programming

Background: Studies examining the influence of commercials on children’s food preferences have demonstrated how media shapes youth perceptions and behaviors. Consequently, it’s important to consider how other aspects of children’s lives, such as academics, may be influenced. For every 3 hours that children spend in school, 5 hours are spent watching TV. Thus, it is possible that academic depictions (AD) in TV content may affect children’s attitudes towards school and learning. …

Gender Stereotypes in a Children's Television Program: Effects on Girls' and Boys' Stereotype Endorsement, Math Performance, Motivational Dispositions, and Attitudes.

Television programs are a central part of children's everyday lives. These programs often transmit stereotypes about gender roles such as “math is for boys and not for girls.” So far, however, it is unclear whether stereotypes that are embedded in television programs affect girls' and boys' performance, motivational dispositions, or attitudes. On the basis of research on expectancy-value theory and stereotype threat, we conducted a randomized study with a total of 335 fifth-grade students to address this question. As the experimental material, we used a television program that had originally been produced for a national TV channel. The program was designed to show children that math could be interesting and fun. In the experimental condition, the program included a gender stereotyped segment in which two girls who were frustrated with math copied their math homework from a male classmate. In the control condition, participants watched an equally long, neutral summary of the first part of the video. We investigated effects on boys' and girls' stereotype endorsement, math performance, and different motivational constructs to gain insights into differential effects. On the basis of prior research, we expected negative effects of watching the stereotypes on girls' performance, motivational dispositions, and attitudes. Effects on the same outcomes for boys as well as children's stereotype endorsement were explored as open questions. We pre-registered our research predictions and analyses before conducting the experiment. Our results provide partial support for short-term effects of gender stereotypes embedded in television programs: Watching the stereotypes embedded in the video increased boys' and girls' stereotype endorsement. Boys reported a higher sense of belonging but lower utility value after watching the video with the stereotypes. Boys' other outcome variables were not affected, and there were also no effects on girl's performance, motivational dispositions, or attitudes. Results offer initial insights into how even short segments involving gender stereotypes in television shows can influence girls' and boys' stereotype endorsement and how such stereotypes may constitute one factor that contributes to gender differences in the STEM fields.

Food appearances in children's television programmes in Iceland.

Exposure to advertisements cannot fully explain the associations between young children's dietary intake and the time they spend in front of the television. It is therefore of importance to study television content other than advertisements in this aspect. The present study aimed to examine the nature and extent of verbal and visual appearances of foods and beverages in children's television programmes on Icelandic public service television. A total of 27 h of children's programmes (domestic and internationally produced) were watched. All verbal and visual appearances of foods and beverages were coded, as well as the context in which the foods/beverages were discussed or appeared. Children's programmes on Icelandic public service television. Two food groups were of special interest for their importance from a public health perspective: high-calorie and low-nutrient (HCLN) foods and fruits and vegetables (F&V). The χ 2 test and logistic regression were performed to analyse if the occurrence of the two groups was associated with the context where foods/beverages appeared. Of the 125 different programmes, a food or beverage appeared in 86 %. Of the total food appearances (n 599), HCLN foods accounted for 26 % and F&V for 23 %. HCLN foods were presented as desirable by appearing more frequently with child characters (P<0·01) than F&V. Public service television has the potential to improve the way food and eating is presented in children's programmes, as young childhood is a critical period for founding healthy habits for later life.

Weekday and weekend food advertising varies on children's television in the USA but persuasive techniques and unhealthy items still dominate

ObjectiveIn 2006, food industry self-regulatory efforts aimed to balance the mix of food advertisements to limit children's exposure to unhealthy food products. An update to these efforts proposed to eliminate all unhealthy advertisements during peak child viewing times and implement uniform nutrition criteria by December, 2013. Marketing techniques are not currently addressed in self-regulatory efforts. The food industry's pledge prompted researchers to conduct a content analysis to assess nutritional quality and presence of persuasive marketing techniques in child-directed food and beverage advertisements. Study designContent analysis. Methods32 h of children's television programming were recorded in February, 2013. Three independent coders assessed the nutritional content of food and beverage advertisements using the UK Nutrition Profiling System and assessed presence of persuasive techniques (PTs) using a rating form developed for this study. ResultsOverall, 13.75% of advertisements promoted a food or beverage product. Most food advertisements, 54.6%, represented unhealthy products and 95.48% of food advertisements contained at least one PT. The number of PTs was not significantly different for healthy (M = 4.98, SD = 2.07) and unhealthy food advertisements (M = 4.66, SD = 1.82) however food advertisements aimed at children used significantly more PTs (M = 5.5, SD = 1.43) than those targeting adults (M = 1.52, SD = 1.54), t (153) = 11.738, P < 0.0001. Saturday morning children's programming showed significantly fewer food advertisements compared to weekday morning children's programming. ConclusionsWhile a majority of food-related advertisements represented unhealthy items, advertisements airing during Saturday morning programming featured fewer food advertisements overall and were more frequently for healthier items compared to weekdays. Industry self-regulation may not be effective for reducing overall unhealthy ad exposure but may play a role in reduced exposure on weekends. Despite policy efforts, additional changes are needed to improve ad exposure experienced by children with a focus on addressing the persistent use of persuasive marketing techniques in food advertising intended for children.

Changes in cultural representations on Indonesian children's television from the 1980s to the 2000s

ABSTRACTThis study describes the changes over time in the portrayal of socio-cultural characteristics; namely gender, age, ethnicity, religious outlook, family unit, violence experienced, living conditions, and cultural values in Indonesian children's television programs. Using systematic-quantitative content analysis of popular locally produced Indonesian children's television programs in the 1980s and the 2000s, this study found that all socio-cultural characteristics changed over time, except for gender representation with male actors consistently outnumbering female actors. There were some predominant socio-cultural characteristics in the 1980s, the era of authoritarian broadcasting system in Indonesia: most of the major characters were children and preteens, from Western Indonesia, not showing religious symbols or practices, having more than one sibling, and the majority of the adult characters were married. In the 2000s, the era of liberal broadcasting system, major characters were children and teens, showing certain religious symbols, having no or only one sibling, and the majority of the adult characters were single. Indonesian children's television brought certain cultural values to the fore for their young audiences to identify themselves with: self-direction and benevolence.

Restricting Advertisements for High-Fat, High-Sugar Foods during Children's Television Programs: Attitudes in a US Population-Based Sample.

Children in the United States (US) are frequently exposed to advertisements for high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) foods, which is linked to greater demand for and consumption of those foods. Restricting advertisements for HFHS foods may be a viable obesity prevention strategy-however, public support for policy change is unclear. A secondary analysis of the 2012 Annenberg National Health Communication Survey was conducted. Respondents (N = 1838) were 53.2% female, mean age 50.0 ± 16.5 years. Race/ethnic composition was 76.8% white, 7.4% black, 9.2% Hispanic, and 6.6% other. The percentage of respondents supporting and opposing the regulation was calculated and logistic regression models identified predictors of support. Potential predictors included sociodemographic variables, attitudes towards other health regulations (e.g., smoking bans in public places), and various health behaviors (e.g., fruit and vegetable intake). A total of 56.3% of respondents supported or strongly supported advertisement restrictions, while only 8.2% strongly opposed. Approximately 20% had no opinion. Greatest support was found among respondents who supported smoking bans in public settings (OR = 4.3), who supported banning trans fats in restaurants (OR = 1.7), and who were older (OR = 1.7). The US adult population appears to have an appetite for restricting HFHS advertising to children, with more than half the populace supporting such a policy in 2012. This may be an opportune time to implement and rigorously evaluate such childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Food appearances in children's television programmes in Sweden

Studying other television content than advertisements is necessary to better understand the association between TV viewing and dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine the nature and extent of verbal and visual appearance of food and beverage in children's programmes in Swedish public service television. The study object was the most popular children's TV programme in Sweden, broadcast by commercial‐free public service television channel and watched almost daily by 45% of children under the age of 10 years. The analysed material consisted of 25 h, broadcast at 21 occasions over almost a 5‐month period of the most popular TV viewing season. All appearances and type of food and beverages were coded as well as the context in which the foods were discussed or appeared. Chi‐square tests were performed to analyse if the occurrence of fruits and vegetables and high‐calorie and low‐nutrient (HCLN) foods respectively were associated with the context where food appeared. Mann‐Whitney test was used to compare the representation of the two food groups in terms of degree of propensity to be consumed. Of the 287 programme sections, food or beverage appeared in 78%. Of the food appearances (n = 773), HCLN foods constituted 19%, and fruits and vegetables 39%. More than half of the HCLN food appearances are with children, while only one third of the fruits and vegetables are shown with children. HCLN foods were more often shown being consumed or actively handled, than fruits and vegetables. Food and beverages appear frequently in children's programmes in Swedish public service television. HCLN foods seem to be represented as more attractive, by to a greater extent appearing consumed or actively handled in comparison with other foods. These foods were also frequently shown together with children while fruits and vegetables more frequently appeared with adults than children.