Tv and Your Children's Health

With the increasing number of channels meant for children like Cartoon Network, Pogo, Regional channels and others, children are getting addicted to television at a very young age. There is nothing astonishing when people tell you that their seven month's old baby does not even eat without watching television. You can defend yourself, saying that they are watching only programmes which help them to gain knowledge. But, if I take you through the problems your child can face because of watching television, then you can understand better.

- The first and foremost effect your child can face is obesity. Because children sit glue to television, their activities become very less. And to add fuel to it children generally consume more of fatty food, which adds more fat. And as there is very little exercise done, fat accumulates, causing obesity. And you know how the chain goes.
- Social interaction becomes very less. Apart from sleeping half the time your child is at school studying. And the rest of the time if he spends watching television then, his interaction with people becomes very less. Therefore as he grows he tends to become reserved. And his social life becomes bad.
- Your child can face shortsightedness. As sitting and staring at the screen for a long time can lead to eye damage. If you feel that you get a variety of spectacles or even contact lenses then nothing can be done.
- Doctors say that if a child watches television for a long time it can cause poor concentration. They say that the development of brain cells governing attention span is impaired.
- Sometimes the child can also face difficulties in reading, because of poor intellectual stimulation.
- Watching television can slow down the rate of metabolism in your child.

The effects are many to mention. If you don't want your child to be affected by these effects, then try as much as possible to reduce the time they spend watching television. It may be a little difficult in the beginning to divert your child from watching television. But, if you seriously try then you can do it. Try and indulge your child in outdoor activities. You can even develop the habit of reading. If you still feel that your child was gaining more knowledge when he was watching television, then I can suggest you that you can discuss matters with your children. Tell them what is happening around them. Keep them busy, see what he is interested in and help him in that field. So that in the long run, it not only improves your child's health but also mind.