Is Watching TV Bad for Children?

 

Written by Jenny Caton

 

Some experts have suggested that children under the age of 12 should watch no more than one hour of television each day. But for many parents, trying to tear children away from the TV can be an on-going battle. But is watching television really bad for children?

 

Yes – Elizabeth

I’m shocked at the amount of violence, sex and bad language that is shown on television every day. Once upon a time it was restricted to after the watershed so you could protect children from it but now it seems to have permeated through the entire television schedule. Soap operas routinely show violent behaviour and supposedly ‘family entertainment’ shows often feature overtly sexual dance routines. It isn’t healthy for children to be exposed to this from a young age as it teaches them that this is what real life is like, when it’s not.

As well as teaching children poor moral values, too much time spent in front of the television means children have no time for other activities such as exercising, studying or playing outdoors with their friends.

Studies have also shown that children who watch too much television can develop attention-deficit disorders. After the fast, energetic pace of TV shows, children often find it difficult to concentrate on more mundane activities, like schoolwork, for any length of time.

In our household, we only switch the television on when there is a programme that we particularly want to watch. This avoids the temptation to sit in front of it hour after hour and means that we socialise as a family instead. When my children do watch TV, I make sure it’s only for short periods of time and always check that the programme is suitable for their age.

 

 

No – Patrick

Television is a great educational resource for children. There are so many programmes that teach children about everything from history and geography to art and religion. They can learn about countries they have never visited and see how people live in different societies and cultures.

Television is also a great way to introduce children to different hobbies and can inspire them to have ambition in other areas of their lives. For example, at a young age I decided I wanted to be a chemist after watching science programmes on TV and my youngest daughter has started singing lessons after watching television talent shows. There may be programmes that promote violence but there are just as many that set a good example to children, encouraging them to work hard and succeed in life.

I’ve always believed that television prepares children for the real world too. It’s much better that they learn about things like bullying or drugs by watching television than by experiencing it in the real world without any knowledge of how to deal with difficult situations. If a character in a soap opera does something like stealing, parents can use it as a way to explain to children why this behaviour is wrong.

Like many things that get a bad rap in life, television in itself isn’t harmful, particularly if parents watch television with their kids. Restricting or banning television completely isn’t the answer.

Categories: caton, Children, children nbsp, jenny, nbsp, real world, Television, time, watch, watching television, written, young age

Five Signs Your Child Has A Vision Problem

Depending on the age of your child, vision problems can be hard to detect. For very young children, parents have to pay particular attention to their child to notice vision problems, but as children get a bit older, more to school age, children often give off warning signs of vision problems. When children have been living most of their lives with blurred vision, they might not even realize what they are missing. As parents, there are signs to look out for so that we can help our children see clearly.

 

Sitting Very Close To The Television Or Computer

In today’s day in age, children start watching television and playing on the computer at a young age. Watching a child’s habits while they are watching television or playing on the computer can give a parent a signal the child might have a vision problem. When a child is watching a program or playing a game on the computer, it is not normal to sit very close to the screen. If the child is incredibly close to the screen, this might be a sign of a vision problem.

 

Squints Or Closes One Eye While Reading

Another sign that your child might have a vision problem is if he or she squints or closes one eye while reading a book or for young children, looking at pictures. This is a way to try and focus the text or pictures of the book better. If you notice your child squinting, address the problem by asking your child about it and then taking them to an eye doctor.

 

Has Bad Headaches During The School Day

A common sign of a vision problem in a child is a bad headache during or after the school day. According to a Calgary Optometrist from Eyeconx, an occasional headache is not necessarily a sign as that could be caused by stress or anything else, but reoccurring headaches are often a sign of vision issues. As the child struggles to see clearly during the school day, this puts stress on them and can easily cause headaches. It’s best to see an optometrist so you can either get their vision corrected or rule it out as a problem and find out what is causing it.

 

Noticeable Visual Eye Problems

A child having an eye that crosses in or out, or their eyes do not work as a pair can be a tell tale sign that there is a vision problem going on. Eyes crossing or not working as a pair can cause one eye to take control over the other making one eye much weaker. If you notice anything like this, your child most likely needs vision correction.

 

Redness In Eyes That Lasts For Days

Redness in eyes is not uncommon, but it is uncommon to last for days or be coupled with sensitivity. Redness in a child’s eyes that does not go away for days could be a sign of vision problems.

 

Detecting vision problems in children can sometimes be difficult because a child does not know a vision problem is there, however, there are signs that to look for if you think your child might have a vision problem. If multiple signs point toward your child having a vision problem it is important to get an optometrist appointment set up to narrow down and diagnose the issue. Vision problems are generally easily corrected and it’s best to seek out care as soon as you think there may be a problem. If children go to school without seeing clearly, their grades and self esteem may suffer simply because of their inability to see and understand things clearly.

Categories: age children, Child, problem, school day, signs, vision, vision problem, vision problems, watching television, young children

How Much is too Much? How TV Affects Your Child"s Health

 Every parent knows how handy the TV is as a quick and easy in-house babysitter, but how much should you really be allowing your children to watch on a daily basis? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), many children are averaging approximately 2 hours of screen time a day for years before they even enter school. While obviously the content of the programming is of concern, what is “plugging in” doing to kids at such an early age?

 

Important Facts You May Not Know:

1) Too much TV inhibits social growth.

Most parents know that the first few years of their child’s life are crucial for developing their brain and social functions. While good nutrition and sleep are extremely important, so is how a child interacts with the world around them. TV and other electronic media can inhibit them from these all-important interactions, and also slow down social learning processes.

2) Kids who watch too much TV tend to be overweight.

We all like to occasionally veg out in front of the television, but regular couch sessions can be detrimental to a child’s overall health. Children with screen time of 4 or more hours a day are not only losing valuable physical activity time, but are also learning habits that will follow them into adulthood.

 

3) Excessive TV can lead to shorter attention spans.

Though TV can be educational, it can also develop school problems down the road. Recent research has found that preschoolers who watched a lot of television had more trouble sitting still and listening during class, and generally lacked the focus and attention of those in the class who had limited television viewing.

What’s Appropriate for Your Child

Taking all of this into account, figuring out exactly how much TV to allow your child to watch can seem like a daunting task. However, the television can be an important tool in your child’s growth and education if used correctly. Developing a plan is crucial to get the very best out of it.

Know Your Limits

Parents will read all sorts of advice as to what the “appropriate” amount of TV time is. Try to understand your current TV usage by keeping a log of how often your little ones are watching television so you can get a better understanding of your family’s viewing habits. From there, try to limit screen time to only quality programming for 1-2 hours per day. Engage your children in other activities to show them that there’s life “away from the box.”

Choose Wisely

Kids may love cartoons, but is that really the best use of their TV time? From DVDs like Baby Einstein to downloadable programs, there are a variety of age-appropriate program choices that can not only entertain your child, but also give them a head-start on ABC’s, counting, colors and shapes. Try to follow up any lesson on the program with appropriate activities. This will show them to use TV more as an educator rather than entertainment.

Engage

Like adults, children have a tendency to “zone out” while watching TV. Keep your child engaged by watching the programs with them. Encourage them to clap their hands or follow along, and talk with them about what you see. This can not only provide some valuable parent-time, but also reinforces a different ideal about watching television.

 

Television doesn’t have to be the monster in the corner of the room. In fact, with planning and keeping an eye on what your children are watching, TV can be a helpful addition to your child’s growth.

 

With four kids, writer Melanie Fleury is guilty of using the TV as a distraction a little too much. She found that by choosing educational and developmentally appropriate shows like the Baby Einstein DVDs helped to make sure that the time spent in front of the TV was quality time.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerine/2623121313/

Categories: baby einstein, child's health, Overweight, Screen time, tv, tv time, watching television, watching tv