---

Many of us have concerns about how much television we, and our family members, watch. Unfortunately, television is often the easiest way to fill our children's spare time.

But it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Increasingly there are more and more educational programmes on TV.

Some of my favourite programmes are on Animal Planet, which introduces children to the animal kingdom. For example, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom first premiered in January 1963, taking viewers to the far corners of the world to study wild animals in their natural habitat.

Years later, the programming covers six of the seven continents, with environs ranging from deserts below sea level in Africa to sub-freezing escarpments 16,000 feet high in the Himalayas.

The series focuses on a wide range of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and seeks out previously unknown and rare species. Today's Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom features striking new graphics and a completely original orchestral score, and each show builds a suspenseful story around the very real challenges that come with filming animals in the wild. Another of Animal Planet's popular shows, Planet's Funniest Animals, uses home videos, documentary footage and news coverage to showcase the antics of our furry, feathered and scaly companions.

New worlds

One of my own favourite channels is the Discovery Channel. Perhaps you're one of the many people who have become hooked (pardon the pun) on the series Deadliest Catch. This programme looks at the Alaskan crab fishermen who hold one of the world's most dangerous jobs. With 40-foot waves, freezing temperatures, and massive crab pots to contend with, Deadliest Catch is an exciting look at the lives of the hardworking crews of five ships as they struggle against treacherous conditions to earn a living and uphold a traditional way of life that is generations old.

I've also learned a lot watching It Takes a Thief, a unique Discovery Channel series that offers viewers something unusual: a home burglary conducted by former thieves and taped as it happens, followed by a lesson in what it takes to prevent the crime from happening again. The programme exposes home-security flaws by unleashing its two hosts, both reformed ex-cons, onto the properties of people looking to find out just how vulnerable their homes are. It Takes a Thief lets you know exactly what makes a home desirable to burglars, and how you can make it safer.

When you yearn to explore, the National Geographic Channel is your destination for information on animals, culture, history, nature, and science. The programme Naked Science, for example, answers science's most evocative questions. If other beings exist in the universe, what do they look like?

Or perhaps you'll be interested in watching Explorer, a programme that will open your eyes to amazing worlds. Step inside engineering marvels and explore modern and ancient cultures. Covering a wide array of topics and interesting subject matter, this hour-long programme will not disappoint.

So you needn't necessarily be concerned that you're watching too much TV.

[[In-content Ad]]

---