Screen Time That Teaches

How Children’s TV Boosts Literacy Skills.

In a world where screens dominate much of children’s free time, it’s easy to view TV as just another distraction. But what if these TV shows – often dismissed as entertainment – are helping to build foundational literacy skills?

Let’s explore the connection between children’s TV programmes and their journey to becoming fluent readers.

The Changing Role of TV in Children’s Education

For decades, television has always been a staple in children’s entertainment, with many of us having great memories of sitting with a bowl of cereal on a Saturday morning in front of Going Live or joining Andy Peters and Ed the Duck in the broom cupboard! However, as time has gone on, TVs role has evolved significantly from offering pure entertainment to becoming a powerful educational tool. Long gone are the days where your teacher dragged in the TV trolley for a Wednesday afternoon viewing of Words and Pictures!

One of the earliest examples of a hybrid of entertainment and education was Sesame Street, introduced in the late 1960’s. Unlike earlier programmes which focused solely on entertainment, Sesame Street used engaging characters, music, and repetition to introduce young viewers to letters, numbers, vocabulary and social skills.

In the UK, the first real children’s TV programmes started after the end of WW2 in 1946 known as Children’s Hour, or BBC for the Children which featured the famous puppet Muffin the Mule with the presenter Annette Mills.

Another example would be The Sooty Show which was produced for the BBC from 1955 to 1967, and then for ITV from 1968 until 1992. The Sooty Show also had a spin-off educational series titled Learn With Sooty, a series of educational videos produced from 1989 to 1991.

Today, shows like Bluey, Peppa Pig, and Bing all continue this legacy, integrating storytelling with everyday life lessons that are relatable to children.

Whilst these shows aren’t explicitly about reading or writing, it reinforces language acquisition, emotional literacy and creative problem-solving skills.

So how exactly does it happen?

How Educational TV Uses Storytelling, Characters, and Dialogue

At the heart of these programmes is their use of storytelling.

Well-crafted narratives are essential to holding children’s attention and showing valuable lessons. For example, Dora the Explorer engages young children with interactive elements such as asking them to solve problems or choose the next step in the story, stimulating critical thinking and comprehension skills. Similarly, shows like Peppa Pig, Bing, and Bluey work to help children become more confident with their reading.

On average, it was found that over 50% of words in an episode of Peppa Pig can be found on the phonics resource ‘First 100 High Frequency Words’. The TV show Bing was made up of 49.6%, and Bluey with 49%.

Additionally, watching TV shows with subtitles can improve early years children’s literacy as they will see what it looks like alongside hearing how it sounds. Children in the UK have been reported to be spending an average 3 hours and 16 minutes watching television every day, and according to Henry Warren, early years education expert and co-founder of TOTS (Turn On The Subtitles) “If you turn on the subtitles, then in just a year kids would ‘read’ the same number of words that are in all the Harry Potter, Narnia and Lord of the Rings books as well as everything Roald Dahl wrote, combined - it’s an impressive amount of words!”

We wouldn’t advocate this as a replacement to reading, but it is an interesting additional benefit.

Finding the Balance Between Screen Time and Literacy Development

There is no doubt that children’s television programmes have evolved in the last few decades, from passive watching to interactive learning.

Educational programmes offer an opportunity to introduce children to new vocabulary, storytelling and critical thinking. Some shows that focus on education and literacy include:

• Odd Squad

• Octonauts

• Go Jetters

• Blue’s Clues

• Bluey

• Peppa Pig

• Horrible Histories

• Operation Ouch

• Deadly 60

The key is balance – ensuring that TV is used as a supplement (not a replacement) to other literacy activities, such as reading, writing, and verbal storytelling.

Ultimately, television can serve as an ally in promoting literacy if it’s integrated mindfully into a well-rounded educational experience away from screens.

By combining TV with traditional literacy activities, we can support children in developing strong reading and comprehension skills while keeping their learning experience varied and dynamic.

As we look ahead, the way children consume media continues to evolve. The shift from traditional broadcast television to streaming platforms has transformed how educational and entertaining content is delivered. Services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and YouTube Kids now offer on-demand access to a vast range of educational shows, making it easier than ever for parents to choose programmes that support literacy and learning.

As new technologies emerge, we can hope for even more interactive, personalised learning experiences – perhaps even incorporating AI or virtual reality to enhance engagement and educational outcomes.

At Lexonik, we understand the importance of keeping these learning experiences varied and dynamic, which is why our programmes are interactive, face-to-face, dynamic and engaging.

What shows do you remember and found educational? Let us know!

Did you know we have tons of free resources on our website that can support your children’s reading? Check them out here: https://lexonik.co.uk/resource...