Educational Television Programs and their Effectiveness in Developing Mental Talents in Children in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research explores the impact of educational television programs on children's cognitive development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The primary goal is to examine the relationship between exposure to educational content and cognitive skills, taking into account cultural appropriateness, age-related differences, and potential impact on critical thinking, The study focuses on a diverse sample of 460 children between the ages of 4-12 years from various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Both urban and rural communities are represented, providing a comprehensive understanding of the educational television landscape and its impacts on cognitive development across different sociodemographic backgrounds. Quantitative analysis reveals a positive relationship between daily television viewing and cognitive skills, especially in language development (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). Qualitative insights emphasize the importance of cultural fit and highlight the positive impact on critical thinking skills, Age-related differences in cognitive scores were determined by ANOVA analysis, with post hoc tests indicating significant differences between the specified age groups (p = 0.002). Based on the results, the recommendations include developing culturally sensitive content in line with Saudi cultural values, designing educational programs that suit children’s developmental stages across different age groups, and enhancing parental guidance and involvement in children’s television viewing habits. Establish quality control measures for educational content to ensure alignment with curriculum standards and cultural sensitivity. Encourage ongoing research initiatives to explore the long-term effects of educational television on cognitive development.