Watching TV: Restricting Television Viewing at Home

Television has become a reference for children and teens. There is really nothing surprising about it since the small screen is part of their natural environment in which they were born and have grown up with the enduring presence of television.

In many families the television is turned on continuously either its background noise or for its light that it emits.

It has the same rhythm and normally schedules your day. Once cartoons are over in the morning it means it is time to go to school. If cartoons are over in the afternoon it means that it is time to start homework. Another game show can determine the time for dinner and the evening new is the time to go to bed. Previously the family used to gather around the fire but now we always do so around the television.

Television control

The daily time spent watching television should be limited to 12 hours a week, although it is sometimes difficult to control. In fact, a child watches television an average of 2 hours per day or 14 hours per week. The time spent in front of this small screen is about 2 ½ hours per day at the age of 5, about 4 hours per day at the age of 12 years stabilizing to 2 or 3 hours per day. It is estimated that the time spent watching television increases by 2 to 3 minutes annually!

If television is undeniably an opening to the world, it should in no way make the child dependent. The impact of television on children is very important: the images may offend, frighten or disturb them or even cause concern for emotional and social development in the offspring.

Studies suggest that programs over-stimulate young minds by fast action and explosives sounds. Children may show symptoms of poor attention and concentration and may even have an agitated behaviour. Too much television cause is capable of causing a rise in stress and has the possibility of destroying concentration and creativity.

The role of parents

The screen is a reassurance for many parents that prefer to see their children in front of the TV rather than roaming about in the streets. For other, television may play the role of a babysitter. While children are literally stuck in front of the television mothers are given more time to do the household chores or any other work that has to be done during the day.

Yet the mission parents face on television is different. They must constantly make sure that dialogue is present among their family members, must guarantee certain morality, explain what is seen on television and make sure that their children understand the difference between the real world and the world of television.

Broadly speaking, we must give our children the keys that will help them exercise their free will and critical thinking to face TV programs of all kinds.

It is also important that from an early age certain rules are put up as regards television viewing. Parents should see what programs are to be watched and should avoid to put the television in a child's bedroom as it could be a great temptation for the child to spend hours in front of the television at the expense of other activities like sleep, schoolwork and sports.

Sources:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html