Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/docia-shares-a-story-about-choices/5010779/
Genie Saffren, director of the Santa Monica College Campus Children's Center, told me how a group of four year olds were watching and enjoying a videotape brought in for the children by Pat Gardner, one of the instructors. When the video ended, the children did not, as expected, get up and move to other activities. Instead, they remained seated, staring intently at what appeared to be a blank screen.Surprised, and wondering what was holding their rapt attention, Genie walked toward the television set. As she approached, one of the children smiled at her, put her fingers to her lips for Genie to be quiet, and pointed to an ant slowly making its way from one side of the screen to the other. The screen was slippery so progress was slow. There was an audible sigh of relief when the ant reached the other side.
I wish I knew which experience the children would choose if there could be only one choice - the video with its music, costumes, animation, and dialogue or the little ant. I'm betting on the ant.
This doesn't mean that television programs and videotapes don't have a place or make a contribution to ...