The Effects of Television on Children: An Overview

Introduction

Today, television has become a very important part of our daily lives, but especially in the lives of our children. As we know, these days the vast majority of families, in many parts of the world, have (or have access to) this magical screen.

Television is a very powerful and effective modern phenomenon that can shape the future of many generations of children in many parts of the world.

Children mimic the action, spoken word, and / or personality that they may be observing, so their influence cannot be underestimated, regardless of the child’s circumstances. This influence can be classified as “good” or “bad” for the future development of these children.

Parents and guardians have an important role to play in deciding which channel or program their child can watch, for how long, and at what part of the day. All of these factors are important in deciding the shape of a child’s future in any setting.

Positive and negative aspects

Not long ago, most countries had only one or two TV channels, not only that, but the viewing time was limited and the broadcast itself was restricted to a number of hours per day / night.

Today, there are a large number of television channels, and some of these channels specialize only in children’s programs. Many of these children’s television channels broadcast from early morning until late at night (or even 24 hours a day), to the point that large numbers of children find it difficult to break the habit of not missing one. series of favorite shows.

One of the negative effects that television has on children is the effect of violence. The hero of a movie or television soap opera may use violence for one reason or another, which can certainly be justified in the eyes of the child. Such violent action will be seen as a normal way of solving a problem (s), and the character, that is, the hero, becomes the model for whatever real-life situation the child may find himself in later.

On the other hand, educational influences can be an excellent aid to learning and development, regardless of whether children are in school or not. This learning process can also be a step forward in life when the subject of education is taken more seriously. Not forgetting that the learning process, or the education itself, can be much more attractive to the child when used through television programs than through a textbook, even if the main purpose of this program is pure entertainment or the procedure of a scientific experiment. in laboratory.

Comparison

Another factor that can play an important role in the development of children who watch television regularly is comparison. Children begin to compare the behavior of children and adults on television and the behavior of those around them. They see two models of behavior, the behavior of the characters or the presenter on a television program – usually seen regularly – and the behavior of the parents / guardians and / or relatives who live with the child. In many cases, but especially when the child watches TV shows more frequently, the TV host or any TV character that is shown regularly in many cases will act as a role model for the child, rather than the parents / guardians. If this causes confusion in the child’s mind when comparing two different behaviors, then this confusion can influence the child’s mental / emotional development later in life.

The role of the parents is obviously very important, if the child needs help to resolve any confusion that may arise. In many cases, the child will assimilate the differences in behavior between the model he saw on television and the surroundings around him. Depending on the environment of each individual and the strength of the influence of television, a child may develop mentally faster (or slower) than the average normal mental development.

Advertising

Commercial advertising is also another factor that can affect children’s understanding of their environment, as well as influencing their mental and emotional development in different ways.

In many cases, parents / guardians are not concerned about the effect of television commercials on their children, unless the children demand to buy one or more products that they see through the advertisement. Obviously, the purpose of the advertiser is to generate this type of demand. If not, then the ad has failed its ‘original purpose’. Commercial television advertising, as we know it, is images with or without sound, which reflect, sometimes with great exaggeration, only the beneficial side of a particular product or service. For a child who sees an advertisement related to a product that interests him, then the image of that particular product can be the starting point of a dream of how wonderful it will be to have such a “thing”. Sometimes this daydreaming can lead to frustration and anger if the product is out of the child’s reach, particularly if other children known or seen by the above-mentioned child were able to get hold of it. Consequently, the end result will manifest itself in the child’s behavior immediately, or it could be later, for a shorter or longer period of time.

That said, and despite the real effect that television can have on children, the claims of the powers of television should not be exaggerated to the point of blaming everything the child may or may not do simply for what they see on the screen. television. This type of exaggeration is simply a way of setting aside the responsibility of the parents / guardians, or family members, towards the child in question.

conclusion

Television can be a source of education and entertainment for most children around the world. At the same time, television can prevent children from moving and expressing their own vibrant energy (including aspects of vocabulary) while playing and making contact with their natural environment. Television also conveys the wrong message about the world as a whole when it is interpreted in the child’s mind.

In general, the effect is very real and, in certain circumstances, it can have an indisputable impact on the mental and / or emotional development of any child. These effects can be expressed, in the short or long term, in a positive or negative way. Television should therefore be used by those who care for children primarily for the benefit of those children. This should be done in a balanced and healthy environment, where the supervision of parents (or guardians) is an important guiding factor for their growth and mental and emotional development.

Najib Altawell