Barney, Sesame Street and Arthur are just a few of the many television programs watched by children. Many kids around the world watch television, but the question is: is it really educational? While there is no concrete evidence that television programs watched by children are educational, surveys say they can help broaden children's knowledge, increase imagination and even introduce social behaviors. Most shows that children watch on television broaden their knowledge and teach some type of lesson that prepares them for school. “There is evidence that television viewing can aid the acquisition of general knowledge and improve cognitive abilities” (Thakkar 2026). Shows can help teach the alphabet, numbers, reading and/or writing. Dora the Explorer co-creator/executive producer Chris Gifford says that "the writers weave education into every episode" and "each episode incorporates the concept of 'multiple intelligences,' with the goal of developing skills in seven key areas, such as using maps to teach visual/spatial learning and shapes to teach math” (Szabo 1). Furthermore, a New York Times article states that “since Sesame Street was created, various studies have shown that it helps preschoolers learn numbers and the alphabet, and thus helps prepare them for school" (Mifflin 1). children watch encouraging children to use their imagination. While children they watch shows they love, they can learn to admire and even love a certain character. Wishing to be more like that character, they can do and act in certain ways that imitate the character's actions, and pretending to be a character increases their imagination. . Some shows are even interactive, which also increases imagination. Shows like Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues give viewers some questions to answer. For example, asking simple questions like “where is the fox?” or “you