Television Watching and Your Children

Many of us as adults, will remember how television affected our lives when growing-up. Television can inform, educate, entertain, teach and do many other things. But realistically, in today's society, television can be very bad for your children humane development as it often display undue violence against people, illegal drug use, explicit sexual content, among others. Therefore, we must know that too much television viewing can lead to aggressive behavior in kids, less outdoor physical activities, use of drugs, and many more unwanted events in the lives of the children and parents.

Too many times experts in children behavior and development will tell us that what kids view on television (TV) can adversely affect their real life actions. Violence on TV are simply copied by kids not equipped with the mind to discern right from wrong. They will simple practice what they see, and in turn may cause serious bodily harm to themselves and other kids. Some even go further and commit crimes, intentionally or accidentally. So what they see, without proper adult supervision (or parental discretion) can really change their lives for the worse, if they are not monitored.

Today in many places, like on the internet, mobile phone, portable hand-held video and the television, there are so many explicit sexual contents, kids are sometimes confused as to how they should react. Sexual activities are not for 7, 9, 12, 15 year olds, and so on. These are children who are still learning about life realities but are not mentally and physically (in most cases) prepared to deal with adult-like sexual activities. And this is essential whether the kids are from the middle class, poor background or the very rich heritage. No child should be left alone my parents to just watch the kinds of explicit TV and adult diverse lifestyle video activities that are prevalent in today's society. Parents, relatives, baby-sitters, and others must be conscious of this danger to kids and double check to ensure that they are doing their part to protect children form unwanted abuse, pregnancies, exploitation and mental break-down.

Taking or trying drug by kids after watching others do this on television is not amusing to anyone. The smoking of cigars by "movie stars" in the 50's and 60's was not considered acceptable by most parents as the kind of activity they wanted their children to copy from viewing television. In the 21st century, this has not changed. But now not only cigars are not acceptable, but all forms of illegal drugs. Those who have experienced or seen a relative or close friend die from exposure to drugs as kids and then got "hooked" for life, will more likely understand this point. But all parents, relatives, neighbors and responsible adults, must know the dangers of kids modeling others smoking on television. Heart disease and cancer in particular, are real. And they kill from a young age. Keeping children away from smoking and taking illicit drugs through watching too much of the wrong television programs, must be a critical priority for all adults.

We are very ware from reality that too much television viewing by kids can adversely affect their weights. They tend to be inactive and hence gain too much weight. While there are other reasons why children gain too much weight, this point is valid. If growing children do not spend as much time running, jumping, stretching, and getting the sufficient exercise they need, they will become overweight, especially if they eat a lot as they usually do. Realistically, children often do not see healthy foods advertised on television that they will ask their parents or guardian to buy. Instead they will see too much candy, snacks, sugary cereals, drinks and such alike, that are unhealthy. They then try to persuade their parents/guardians to buy those unhealthy foods. Some parents give-in too often and so the kids are exposed to being overweight in light of the other points stated above. This is not good for any child and the parents are not doing the child a favor when they do not monitor this kind of reactionary behavior from watching too much television.

A very critical point about watching television is that it affects how children learn. We are often told that high-quality, nonviolent children's shows can have a positive effect on learning. Preschool children, for example, who watch educational TV programs do better on reading and math tests than children who do not watch educational programs. So television can be very effective in giving kids the right start in their learning and development when used in the appropriate manner. Parents can get better information from their kids Pediatric Professionals about the best age to expose children to television. Some say it is best not to expose kids to TV before the age of 2, while for those older than two years, 1-2 hrs per day of quality educational TV viewing are sometimes stated as beneficial. Parents/guardians, with the advice form there kids doctors, teachers and State/City officials, will need to make the final decision, but hopefully in the best interest of the children and their development.
END.