[Paul C. Jesup]

You realized the dumbed down tv kiddy shows shown on television, you will realize why this is the case.

But I would not be surprised if quality shows with good plots and character developement actually increased a child's intelligence.

[ordinaryguy]

That would be an interesting experiment. I don't know whether it would turn out that way or whether television is an inherently unhealthy medium.

[netmilsmom]

>>But I would not be surprised if quality shows with good plots and character developement actually increased a child's intelligence.<<

Amen!
Turn on Dora or Blues Clues. Map skills, colors, counting, adding, etc.
My girls have always watched tv. Any mom who needs a trip to the bathroom will find tv to be great. But we are selective. While my neighbor was letting her three year old watch Powerpuff girls, we watched Studio Ghibli films in Japanese.
My daughter are now two years ahead academically. Like anything, one must be careful. Too much candy is bad, but we have to eat. Too much eye candy is bad, but tv is a wonderful tool.

[Chickensoup]

Studies have been done and those "high quality television shows" are no better than the garbabe because of the passive unfiltered way that television is received into the brain.