If your little ones are getting aggressive and are suffering from poor attention span, it’s time to check if they are spending more time in front of the television.
A study was carried out on how television time affected young children and it was found that toddlers who watched too much television became aggressive and suffered from poor attention span. It was also found that the number of children who were spending more time in front of the television is also on a rise.
The number of kids who have their personal TV’s in their rooms is also increasing; such kids have the opportunity to view violent programs easily as there is no parental control over the quality of the programs they viewed.
Excessive viewing before age three has been shown to be associated with problems of attention control, aggressive behavior and poor cognitive development.
says Frederick Zimmerman, author of the American study.
Experts say that toddlers under three years should not be allowed to watch the television at all.
Kidsource has some good tips on how parents can guide their children’s television viewing.
Television viewing can have positive effects, if parents and teachers:
•Set Limits: Know how many hours of television your children watch. Limit your children’s viewing to 1 to 2 hours a day. Watching television is often more habit than choice. Establish good viewing habits for your children. Suggest and participate with your children in alternative activities such as reading, sports, conversation, games, and hobbies. Because children model their behavior after their parents, consider your own viewing habits and set a good example. Eliminate some television viewing by setting a few basic rules, such as no television during meals or before completing household tasks or homework.
•Plan: Encourage your children to plan their viewing by using a TV Guide or newspaper listing rather than flipping channels. Help the children decide which show to see and encourage them to watch a variety of programs appropriate for their level of understanding. The television should be turned on only for specific programs; it should be turned off when they are over.
•Participate: Know what your children watch on television. Watch with them and talk about the programs afterward. Explain situations that are confusing. Ask why any violent scenes occurred and how painful they were. Ask your children for ideas about ways the conflict could have been resolved without violence.
•Monitor: Encourage children to watch programs about characters who cooperate and care for each other. Such programs can influence children in positive ways by modeling desirable behavior and setting good examples.
•Analyze Commercials: Children need your help to critically evaluate the validity of the many products advertised on television. Teach children to analyze commercials and recognize exaggerated claims. Point out that the makers of the products pay for advertising.
•Express Your Views: Call your local television station when you are offended or pleased by something on television. Stations, networks, and sponsors are all concerned about the effects of television viewing on children and are responsive to parents’ concerns.
