Carlos the Cheetah and the Outdoor Magic: A Story About the TV
Once upon a time, a young cheetah cub named Carlos lived in the golden savannas of Africa. Carlos was no ordinary cheetah cub; he was the fastest
runner among his siblings. But Carlos had one problem – he recently discovered the TV and had been watching it too much ever since! There were cartoons about brave lions, documentaries about wise old elephants, and even adventure movies with daring meerkats. Carlos would sit in front of his TV for hours, his big, bright eyes glued to the screen. Carlos’s favorite show was called Super Cheetah Adventures, where a superhero cheetah would race through the savanna, solving problems and saving the day. Carlos wanted to be just like Super Cheetah, but instead of running outside and practicing, he spent more and more time inside, watching TV.
One sunny morning, Carlos’s mother, Mama Cheetah, called him. ‘‘Carlos, it’s time for your morning run!’’ she said. ‘‘You need to practice your speed and agility.’’
Without taking his eyes off the screen, Carlos replied, ‘‘I don’t want to go out, Mama! Super Cheetah is about to save the day!’’
Mama Cheetah sighed. She knew how much Carlos loved his show, but she was worried. Carlos was spending too much time in front of the TV and not enough time running and playing like the other cubs. Days went by, and Carlos continued watching TV instead of playing outside. He started to feel tired all the time, even though he wasn’t doing much. His legs felt heavy, and he found keeping up with his siblings more challenging during their runs.
One afternoon, his sister Cora came to Carlos while he was watching TV. ‘‘Carlos, come outside and play!’’ she called. ‘‘I found a new path through the tall grass. We could discover something amazing!’’
Carlos shook his head. ‘‘Maybe later, Cora. I’m watching Super Cheetah right now.’’
Cora frowned. ‘‘But Carlos, you’ve been watching TV all day! Don’t you want to feel the wind in your fur and the warm sun on your back?’’
Carlos thought about it for a moment. He did love the feeling of running through the savanna, but the TV was so entertaining. ‘‘Maybe later,’’ he said again. Cora sighed and left. She was worried about her brother, so she decided to talk to Mama about it.
Later that evening, Mama Cheetah gently approached Carlos. ‘‘Carlos, my dear, I think it’s time we talked about something important,’’ she began. ‘‘Watching TV can be fun, but too much of it isn’t good for you. It’s making you tired and sluggish. You need to go outside, run, and play with your friends and siblings.’’
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What is your favorite TV show? Do you ever feel like you can’t stop watching it? (This question helps readers identify their own TV habits and
opens the door for a conversation about screen time.)