nick jr: trying too hard or not trying the right way?

Ever since I began babysitting, I've been watching a lot of Noggin (the educational Nick Jr), and I don't know how I feel about the innundation of the subtle and not-so-subtle green tips for kids. Commercials for a new Nickelodeon project, The Big Green Help, run frequently. The ads are cute, featuring smiling, chubby-cheeked children enjoying eco-friendly activities like making new things out of their old jeans or planting in the backyard. While some of it can be over the top and/or out of touch with the target audience [for example, today's online suggestion is "Use paper products like napkins and paper towels made from recycled paper instead of right from trees." Sure that's a helpful, if not already evident, tip for adults who go grocery shopping and are in control of what they buy, but I think that's a little tough to ask of toddlers. Something younger ones might understand more readily could be using a towel to clean up messes.] Despite the little things, I still laud their efforts to get kids thinking about the environment at an earlier age.

However, I'm rethinking Nick's green makeover as I watch an episode of Max & Ruby with the twins (see Wellies post below). For the those uninstructed in the hottest 3-and-under television shows, Max is a mischievous little boy bunny looked after by Ruby, his older sister who is also a bunny. During a celebration of Max's birthday, while Max is excitedly begins tearing open his present, Ruby chides something to the effect of don't tear the wrapping paper, we can use it for a thank you card. While I think that's a pretty cool idea, I'm 21 years old and have gotten all of the animalistic urges to obliterate the packaging on my presents out of my system. That subtle green hint, which would probably be lost on the younger half of the show's preschool viewers and preoccupied parents anyway, just doesn't seem fair for kids. The point is to make helping the environment fun too, right? And if Nick wants to incorporate such suggestions even into their programming, why not make them count. I much would have prefered to see a suggestion for something to do with the wrapping after it's been ripped to shreds. Here's an easy one, colorful recycled confetti!