--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s not whether children learn from…" description: "\"It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television... because everything that children see on television is teac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg" --- # It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what… ![“It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television... because everything that children see on television is teaching them something.” quote by Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg) > “It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television... because everything that children see on television is teaching them something.” [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Television shapes children by the content it delivers, not merely by exposure. **In simple terms:** Kids learn from TV based on what they see. Key Takeaway Choose educational programming. Themes education media influence child development Mood concerned thoughtful Type educational observational When to use this quote - parental guidance - curriculum design - media literacy - family viewing Key Concepts learning theory media effects Questions to Reflect On - How does content affect child behavior? - What criteria define good TV for kids? A Different Perspective Not all TV is beneficial; quality varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [All television is children's television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adler/all-television-is-children-s-television/) Richard Adler > [Television is teaching all the time. Does more educating than the schools and all the institutions of higher learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/television-is-teaching-all-the-time-does-more-educating-than-the/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [In television, the cuts are so quick: bang-bang-bang-bang-bang! I want to shoot two people and sit there for eight minutes and watch them. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/in-television-the-cuts-are-so-quick-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-i-want/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [I'm not up on today's television for children, because it's mostly cartoons that don't seem to interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jackson/i-m-not-up-on-today-s-television-for-children-because-it-s-mostly/) [William Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jackson/) > [I have always said that the best training to be a TV newsman or anybody on television is to do a children's show because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-scott/i-have-always-said-that-the-best-training-to-be-a-tv-newsman-or/) [Willard Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-scott/) > [I pitched my last children's show presentation in the mid 1980's. The era of locally produced children's shows was over and the networks were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jackson/i-pitched-my-last-children-s-show-presentation-in-the-mid-1980-s-the/) [William Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jackson/) > [American families want high-quality children's television programming. Unfortunately, due to outdated rules, broadcasters are hamstrung from meeting market demand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/american-families-want-high-quality-children-s-television-programming/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [Sesame Street is the epitome of children’s television. It has continued to maintain the successful structure that was established in the beginning. Through it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-clash/sesame-street-is-the-epitome-of-children-s-television-it-has/) [Kevin Clash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-clash/) > [Animation did not become the dominant form of children's television until the '60s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-funicello/animation-did-not-become-the-dominant-form-of-children-s-television/) [Annette Funicello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-funicello/) > [When I first saw children's television, I thought it was perfectly horrible. And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/when-i-first-saw-children-s-television-i-thought-it-was-perfectly/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [The absence of younger children on television is understandable - minors in entertainment are subject to work hour restrictions and educational requirements that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/the-absence-of-younger-children-on-television-is-understandable/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [In general, watching children's television is a dark and surreal descent into madness where the characters on the screen talk directly to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/in-general-watching-children-s-television-is-a-dark-and-surreal/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I like making children's television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pendleton-ward/i-like-making-children-s-television/) [Pendleton Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pendleton-ward/) > [My son has been known to throw a book at the television set when he called for me to come play and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/my-son-has-been-known-to-throw-a-book-at-the-television-set-when-he/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [My fantasy for children's television is that it's not really children's television, it's everybody's television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-burns/my-fantasy-for-children-s-television-is-that-it-s-not-really-children/) [Steve Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-burns/) ## More by Joan Ganz Cooney > [Probably any successful career has X number of breaks in it, and maybe the difference between successful people and those who aren't super achievers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/probably-any-successful-career-has-x-number-of-breaks-in-it-and-maybe/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I was brought up Catholic, and even as a little girl I was affected by the idea of giving back - doing something for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-was-brought-up-catholic-and-even-as-a-little-girl-i-was-affected-by/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I thought it was quintessentially American - very hip, very late-'60s. I was absolutely stunned when a German production company asked me if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-thought-it-was-quintessentially-american-very-hip-very-late-60s-i/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I wish I could tell you that the Children's Television Workshop and Sesame Street were thanks to my genius, but it really was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-wish-i-could-tell-you-that-the-children-s-television-workshop-and/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [The question for me was, could TV actually teach? I knew it could, because I knew 3-year-olds who sang beer commercials!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/the-question-for-me-was-could-tv-actually-teach-i-knew-it-could/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I was a TV producer at a noncommercial station, and we were producing some good documentaries - on Head Start, on poverty. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-was-a-tv-producer-at-a-noncommercial-station-and-we-were-producing/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [My degree was in education, but the idea of being a teacher lost out to being a reporter. I worked at a newspaper for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/my-degree-was-in-education-but-the-idea-of-being-a-teacher-lost-out/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [There is a young and impressionable mind out there that is hungry for information. It has latched on to an electronic tube as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/there-is-a-young-and-impressionable-mind-out-there-that-is-hungry-for/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [In South Africa, where HIV-positive children are often shunned, we have an HIV-positive Muppet to teach children to be friendly with children with HIV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/in-south-africa-where-hiv-positive-children-are-often-shunned-we-have/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [Big Bird was the biggest star, I mean, children's favorite for a number of years. I have a 22-year-old granddaughter whose first words were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/big-bird-was-the-biggest-star-i-mean-children-s-favorite-for-a-number/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I did not even go to kindergarten; I just started first grade when I was five and started reading right away. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-did-not-even-go-to-kindergarten-i-just-started-first-grade-when-i/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) [Explore all 12 Joan Ganz Cooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television... because everything that children see on television is teaching them something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Ganz Cooney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-television-it-s-what-children/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-television-it-s-what-children/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76d/joan-ganz-cooney-38189_children_it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-tel_1505893.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television... because…” — Joan Ganz Cooney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joan Ganz Cooney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It’s not whether children learn from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-television-it-s-what-children/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/it-s-not-whether-children-learn-from-television-it-s-what-children/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```