Children and Television
Children and Television
Kyiesha Isiah
COM/156
February 17, 2013
Gina Greco
Children and Television
According to the AC Nielson Company, 2007 the average American child will watch eight thousands murders before finishing elementary school. In years past children went outside for recreation, this tradition has now been replaced with television contributing to childhood obesity. The time children today are spending watching television has reached critical levels causing many experts to be concerned for their social skills and physical health.
In America children are watching between four to five hours of television a day, with exposure to an additional four hours of background television. This is double the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Television is quickly replacing peer interaction, reading, family bonding time, and physical activity. These are all very important aspects of a childs development, and taking the place of beneficial activities like family interaction, reading, and playing with friends. Parents need to implement rules and set clear limitations on viewing times and content and urge other parents to follow the same path. Treat television as a privilege instead of a right, and have the children earn their viewing time. For example, homework and any household chores should be completed before the television is allowed to be turned on. Allow the children to be a part of the programming decisions so they feel included in the decision making. Typically a movie lasts between ninety minutes upwards of two hours; explain if they choose to watch there will be no more television for the day. Choosing a program the entire family can enjoy together works as double duty precious bonding time, and monitoring.
A larger problem with society today is television has become babysitters for our children. Because of finances many children often spend a number of hours unmonitored until their parents arrive home. During
Kyiesha Isiah
COM/156
February 17, 2013
Gina Greco
Children and Television
According to the AC Nielson Company, 2007 the average American child will watch eight thousands murders before finishing elementary school. In years past children went outside for recreation, this tradition has now been replaced with television contributing to childhood obesity. The time children today are spending watching television has reached critical levels causing many experts to be concerned for their social skills and physical health.
In America children are watching between four to five hours of television a day, with exposure to an additional four hours of background television. This is double the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Television is quickly replacing peer interaction, reading, family bonding time, and physical activity. These are all very important aspects of a childs development, and taking the place of beneficial activities like family interaction, reading, and playing with friends. Parents need to implement rules and set clear limitations on viewing times and content and urge other parents to follow the same path. Treat television as a privilege instead of a right, and have the children earn their viewing time. For example, homework and any household chores should be completed before the television is allowed to be turned on. Allow the children to be a part of the programming decisions so they feel included in the decision making. Typically a movie lasts between ninety minutes upwards of two hours; explain if they choose to watch there will be no more television for the day. Choosing a program the entire family can enjoy together works as double duty precious bonding time, and monitoring.
A larger problem with society today is television has become babysitters for our children. Because of finances many children often spend a number of hours unmonitored until their parents arrive home. During
References: Baylor Health. (04/17/2012). U.S. Children Exposed to Hours of Background TV Daily. Retrieved from http://healthsource.baylorhealth.com/Conditions/COPD/NewsRecent/6,663897 Children and TV violence. (March 2011). Facts for Families, 13. Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/galleries/FactsforFamilies/13_children_and_tv_violence_.pdf HealthyChildren.org. (11/30/2012). Where We Stand: TV Viewing Time. Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Where-We-Stand-TV-Viewing-Time.aspx Rettner, R. (12/11/2012). Bedroom TVs linked to childhood obesity. Retrieved from http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/3347-bedroom-tv-children-obesity-risk.html Shoetz, D. (March 11, 2008). Boy Mimicking Cartoon in Sandbox Stunt Dies. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/MindMoodNews/story?id=4430328&page=1