There is an ongoing debate about the effects of television on children. Some believe that television has a lot to offer. It can educate, stimulate and entertain. If parents are discerning about what their child watches and how much he watches, there is nothing too harmful about television. On the other hand, some experts say that children under the age of two should not watch television. They feel that it hinders a child’s growth and development in many ways.

So before you seat your children in front of your huge plasma TV, think about what they are watching and how long they are watching, and the negative effects of television on young viewers.

Positive:

  • Children can learn about numbers, letters, colors, and shapes by watching quality educational programs.
  • Children can learn about social interaction and manners in good quality drama and educational programs.
  • For many parents of young children, a day at home is many hours. Sometimes a family or appropriate movie or show can provide a moment of relaxation for both the child and the parents.
  • Children enjoy the familiarity of a movie or show they have seen many times as much as they love reading the same book over and over again.
  • Many movies and shows have a moral history, and this can sometimes provide a useful way for parents to introduce moral themes and ideas into their children’s lives.
  • Very often, a movie or show can serve as inspiration for creative games and games outside of television. A child may enjoy recreating a favorite scene or character from a movie and continue this scene in playtime.
  • Television and the media are a way of life these days. Children can benefit from being conditioned and familiar with media concepts. It will help them to participate in social and cultural events and debates in the development of their social and educational lives.

Negative:

  • Children under the age of two can be adversely affected by television. It can hamper your social and mental development.
  • Too many hours in front of the television can prevent children from interacting with their families and siblings.
  • Too much television can become a problem for some children who are less physically active because they prefer to watch television.
  • Too much exposure to television and on-screen media can make a child’s mind lazy in terms of using their imagination and brainpower in other areas of their life.
  • When children watch television, they are exposed to advertising. Much advertising is specifically directed at young children. Ads target young people and condition them to become loyal consumers of the brand as adults. Exposure to some advertisements could promote poor eating habits and poor food choices.
  • Watching television recklessly can expose children to bad habits like smoking and drinking. It can expose them to violence and create a mentality of fear and aggression.
  • Watching television can also instill social stereotypes of race, gender, and class in your children.

With so many reasons for and against watching television, it seems best to leave the decision to the parents. A father knows his own son and knows the best way to manage his television viewing habits. Certainly an insightful and vigilant attitude is essential when exposing young children to television, so think twice before sitting your child in front of your beloved flat-screen HDTV.