We use Wrote Memory to retain information long enough to be processed into Long-Term memory.
Unlike perceptual short term memory which lasts for fractions of a second, this process can last for hours.
It is also useful for holding on to information long enough to convert it into long term memory, but that is a later discussion.
There is much that we can do with our young children to develop perceptual and wrote memory skills.
Reading to the child (the infant too) is a major positive step. Putting TV in the locked closet is another.
Suffice it to say that the brain waves of a person watching TV are similar to one who is asleep. No brain growth there--just wasted time.
There are a few TV shows which do have merit.