Effects of Television on Children

“According to Wikipedia, a television (also known as a TV) is a machine with a screen. Televisions receive broadcasting signals and change them into pictures and sound. The word "television" comes from the words tele (Greek for far away) and vision (sight)”.

Invented in the 1920s, TV has gradually imposed itself in our lives until becoming an essential element today. Several television channels were created. Programs of all kinds and for all ages are broadcast by TV. Thus, from children to old people through adults, everyone has it for his taste.

Although TV has long been considered an important technological advance, nowadays, more and more voices are being raised to criticize television. Its negative effects on people in general and on children in particular are increasingly highlighted. Here we will discuss the relationship between television and children.

What are the effects of television on children?

Some positive and negative effects of television on children will be discuss along with some advice for parents.

Positive effects

Research shows that television can have a positive impact on children. It can help them change their behaviour and attitude for good. Here are some ways.

1.  Educational content

A few television channels are dedicated to creating educational and informative content for the audience, especially children. They broadcast some educational content covering subjects like art and craft, science, history, geography and math etc.

TV is also a great medium that exposes children to different languages around the world.

Allowing kids to watch News channels, with a little guidance, will help them stay updated with the current affairs and names of significant people in the world.

2.  Discovery of different cultures

Television lets you travel around the world without you ever having to step out of your home. It takes people to different countries and educates them about various cultures in the world. With the right choice of programs, a child can learn about people and their traditions, lifestyles and attitudes.

3.  Entertainment

TV is one of the primary sources of entertainment for kids. The sounds and colorful images on the screen appeal to children and also retain their attention. From movies to cartoon shows, there are several programs to keep children engaged. However, make sure that the content is appropriate for them, based on their age and level of understanding.

4.  Television Can Inspire

Educational TV programs encourage children to try new things. For example, a documentary about famous scientists, artists and other public figures can inspire them to do good deeds or achieve something big in life.

5.  Sports

The best way to expose children to sports is through TV. Encourage them to watch different sports like tennis, soccer, baseball and basketball, by co-viewing with them. Tell them about the gameplay, rules and other interesting facts about the sport. If they show interest in any, encourage them to play the game or sport.

Negative effects

Unfortunately, TV affects children negatively as well. Here are some ways.

1.  Physical activity

Addiction to TV shows reduced the amount of physical activity in children.

Lack of proper physical activity and too much screen time can lead to vision problems.

Research has also proved that there is a direct connection between TV time and obesity in kids.

2.  Brain development and behaviour

According to studies, TV may be educational, but excessive watching could affect a child’s brain development.

Researchers in Japan found that watching TV too much can alter the brain structure.

Another study by The John Hopkins University states that toddlers who watch television for more than two hours a day can have behavioral problems.

3.  Social development

Kids who watch a lot of TV do not have time to play or socialize.

Less or no interaction with peers can affect their social development. TV eats away the time they get to interact with other children in their social circle, which may affect their knowledge and understanding of social interactions and behaviour.

4.  Exposure to vices

You cannot control what is shown on television and may also not always be able to control what children watch on the TV.

Early exposure to inappropriate content that has sex, alcohol, and drugs, could bring up questions in children, the answers to which may be too complicated for them to understand. The worst part is that early exposure can even give them a distorted view of these elements.

The violence portrayed in a “positive” light in superhero movies and the like give them an idea that it is “okay” to be violent.

It may even encourage violent and aggressive behaviour in some kids, which can be detrimental to their social development.

5.  A distorted view of the world

Movies and other television shows may exaggerate reality and create extremely violent scenes online, which may be terrifying for kids.

The amount of violence and guns used on TV may give them an impression that the world is an unsafe place for them.

Animated and cartoon shows, which underplay the effects of violence may also desensitize kids to the real-world events.

6.  Consumerism

The number of ads that children see on TV expose them to a variety of brands and products that they may not need.

Commercials encourage kids to consume unhealthy foods and drinks.

Children begin to believe that fast food, ice creams, and carbonated drinks are good.

Parents become the victims of consumerism as kids insist on buying something that they saw on TV. They are forced to spend money on things that their children want but do not need.

Advice for Parents

Here is how Parents can protect their children from the damaging effects of television.

1.  Choose the right TV Shows

Find out Programs or shows which are appropriate for children.

Do some research to understand the content and the message that the show sends out to the audience.

Encourage them to watch educational programs by watching them yourselves.

Pick shows with shorter duration. The longer they watch, the more the chances of them getting addicted.

Do not let them watch ads. Kids are naive and commercials can be manipulative.

2.  Limit TV Time

While you may not be able to control how much TV your kids watch outside, you can surely limit it at home. Here is how.

Set TV time

Specify TV times for kids for weekdays and weekends.

Do not allow them to watch TV while they are eating.

Ensure that you have dinner together, if possible, at the dinner table with no TV in the background.

That will prevent them from watching too much TV on any given day.

Remove TV from the bedroom

TV in bedrooms is a bad idea, especially for kids as prolonged exposure to screens can affect their sleeping habits.

TV is not a babysitter

It is common for parents to use the television as a babysitter when they want to do something without being disturbed by their kids. When you are busy, you may not be able to control what the kids are watching, and that can expose them to inappropriate content.

3.  Make it a family activity

Make watching TV a fun family activity, instead of a means to pass the time. That will discourage your children to watch it when they are bored or alone at home.

By Mr. Kamagate Yaya, Intern. Marketing in Sigma Group of Institutes - Vadodara.

Source: https://www.momjunction.com/articles/good-bad-effects-television-children_0074078/#gref

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