With 99% of American households owning at least one television and 56% of American households paying for cable, the viewing options can seem endless. (Statistic Brain, webpage, par 2-3). Children watch more television today than ever before; However, this doesn't have to be a negative thing. Shows like “Sesame Street,” “Sid the Science Kid” and “MythBusters” can help kids get excited about learning. These shows engage children with puppets, songs, and science experiments that you can do at home. “Sesame Street,” for more than forty years, has been broadcast on television to get young children excited about learning. With characters like “Big Bird,” “Count Von Count,” “Cookie Monster,” and “Oscar the Grouch,” they help kids learn their colors, count, and build vocabulary. Using sketches, puppets, songs and animations, they are able to continue learning while having fun, while stimulating the child's brain. A recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed an average 11% difference in test scores between children who watched "Sesame Street" and children who did not watch the show (University of Wisconsin-Madison, webpage, par 4). Made with input from an education specialist, “Sesame Street” has been shown to have a positive effect on learning, social and cognitive skills. The impact of "Sesame Street" is global: Bangladeshi children have test scores 67% higher than children who don't watch (Sesame Workshop, web page, par 8). Their website offers a variety of links to resources for teachers and parents, such as math kits, science kits, and vocabulary videos, all of which have been shown to improve test scores. As children grow older, television can still play an important role. ..... middle of paper ......ents." Discovery Kids :: Science Experiments. Np, nd Web. February 23, 2014. "Educators." Smithsonian. Np, nd Web. February 23, 2014. . " Literacy and Numeracy." Sesame Np, nd Web. February 22, 2014. "Statistic Brain RSS. American Time Use Survey, AC Nielsen Co., December 7, 2013. February 22, 2014. “The Re-Inventors.” Smithsonian Channel Np, nd Web. February 23, 2014. “UW Analysis Shows 'Sesame Street' Impact on Global Learning.” Np, April 18, 2013. Web February 20.. 2014. .