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Is Your Television Controlling Your Life?
Excessive TV viewing can have a negative impact on the quality of life.
Major studies reveal the significant extent to which TV dominates the lives of American children and their families and the negative impact that can result from a too-much-TV lifestyle. TV affects what children learn, how they view their world, and how they interact with others. It can even lead to risk-taking behaviors, aggression, or negative attitudes about nutrition, sexuality, and self-image. Not only is TV content an issue, but what TV viewing replaces: conversation and family interaction, creativity, productivity, healthy physical activity, civic engagement, reading, thinking, and doing.
Parents should help their children develop critical thinking and TV viewing skills about what and how things are portrayed on TV. By watching TV together and discussing the content, parents can address objectionable content and use TV as a springboard for family discussion. Children who are thus "TV educated" are less likely to be influenced by TV messages and more likely to withstand potentially harmful effects.
Even when viewing is limited to quality programs, too much time in front of the tube is still not good. The AAP recommends that TV viewing by children be limited to 1-2 quality hours per day. It takes commitment and effort on the part of parents to monitor and help interpret TV's influence on their children.
More TVs, Less Parent Involvement
In many homes, opportunities to watch TV in some form are more available than ever. According to studies by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center ( http://www.appcpenn.org ) almost half of families with children age 2-17 have a television, VCR, computer, and video game player. More of these families subscribe to an Internet service than a daily newspaper. They average nearly three TV sets per household.
The studies found 85% of parents worry about what their children watch on TV, but only 40 percent have sets equipped with V-chips or other blocking technology. Further, according to the studies, the percentage of parents who are familiar with rating guidelines for TV shows has declined from 70% in 1997 to 50% in 2000.
The average American spends 40% of their free time in front of the tube (about 4 hours each day). About 50% of families have the TV set on during dinnertime. Two out of three children age 8 and older have a TV in their room. Many children spend more time watching TV than doing any other daytime activity. By High School graduation, many children have spent 15-18,000 hours watching TV and only 11,000 hours in school. By age 65, the average American will have spent nine years watching TV.
Ironically, children are busier than ever--with school, soccer, Scouting, music, etc,-with less free time, and yet the TV dominates that free time. More than half of 4-6 year olds would rather watch TV than be with their fathers. TV causes conflicts with parents over chores and homework, it replaces conversation, even during meal times, and it even replaces constructive family disagreements which can be a form of learning and a stimulus to problem-solving and character formation. Thus the TV often has a greater influence on children's lifestyles, values, health, eating habits, family interactions, sleeping habits, and selection of role models than do their parents.
A Link to Fear, Distrust, & Violence
Studies cited by the Minneapolis-based National Institute on Media and the Family ( www.mediafamily.org ) show that a child who watches an average of 2-4 hours of TV daily will witness 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other acts of violence by the end of elementary school, and by age 18, will have seen 200,000 acts of violence, including 40,000 murders.
More than 2,000 studies have linked TV-violence to real-life violence. It can cause antisocial behavior and make children more likely to hurt others, behave more aggressively on the playground, and display callousness toward other people's pain.
In reporting one study that shows children's TV programs contain about 20 violent acts each hour, the Washington, DC-based American Psychological Association ( www.apa.org/pubinfo/violence/html ) notes that children who watch a lot of TV are more likely to think that the world is a mean and dangerous place.
Health and Values
Major medical studies link excessive TV watching to obesity because of decreased physical activity, snacking while viewing TV, and exposure to ads that encourage unhealthful eating habits. TV shows often glamorize harmful and dangerous behavior, especially the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. They often portray criminal activity or sexual promiscuity with little or no attention to moral implications or dangerous outcomes. They normalize and promote the adoption of unhealthy behaviors by children and adolescents.
Education
Watching TV 10 or more hours a week negatively affects academic achievement. Also TV viewing is passive: your child is giving up opportunities for more active intellectual, emotional, artistic, and physical growth. While watching TV, your child is probably not asking questions, solving problems, being creative, exercising initiative, thinking critically, logically and analytically, practicing communication skills, nor playing interactive games with other children or adults (helpful for developing patience, self-control, cooperation, sportsmanship). Children learn best in the context of relationships and meaningful interaction with people they respect. Usually, even in a group, TV viewing is a passive, solitary activity.
Positive Role
TV can play a positive role in children's lives. If the programs a child watches are carefully selected, TV can provide good entertainment, exposure to other cultures, and positive social values. News programs can inform about current events. Through special programs children can learn about the wonders of nature and the fascination of history. When the family watches together, TV can provide an opportunity for them to share time with one another. While there is some worthwhile TV programming, parents have to look for it actively.
TV Education: What Parents Can Do
Set firm limits on the amount of TV your child watches. Keep viewing to a preplanned hour or two daily. Ordinarily, homework assignments and household chores should be completed prior to TV viewing, but TV should not be used as a reward. Providing alternatives to TV--such as after-school sports, hobbies, chores, and family activities--can make the transition easier.
Encourage and help your child to plan his TV viewing in advance. With your guidance, s/he should organize his/her time and choose programs from the TV listings at the beginning of each week. Keep copies of the family viewing schedule posted in visible locations (by the TV or on the frig) to serve as a reminder.
Screen the TV shows that your child watches. Sit down and watch TV with him/her, and when any depictions of sex, tobacco, alcohol or drug abuse, violence, or negative stereotypes should appear, use them as springboards for family discussions, helping your child put them in context. Use TV to promote dialogue that can reinforce family values. Also, guide your children toward becoming more critical viewers by discussing the behavior and attitudes of characters, as well as the sales pitches in commercials. Children may want the toys and junk foods advertised on TV, but you can explain how commercials are aimed at persuading people to buy items they may not need or which may not be good for them.
When good programs air at inconvenient times -perhaps educational programs telecast during school hours, or programs that conflict with family activities- videotape them so your child can watch them at a later date. This will demonstrate your respect for his viewing rights and your willingness to honor the contract or agreement you have about his TV watching.
Keep books and magazines in the TV room, as well as board games. Make regular trips to the library with your child and help select books to read.
Set an example of behavior you wish to instill. Parents are powerful role models. If you want your child to read more, that is what you should do. If you would like him/her to go outdoors for physical activity, invite him to do so as part of an enjoyable family exercise program.
Do not permit TV watching during dinner. The evening meal is often the only time that families are able to be together for any sustained period. If the TV set is on at the same time, it will interfere with or terminate conversation.
Do not allow your child to have a TV set in his bedroom. Not only will s/he tend to watch more TV indiscriminately, but s/he will probably isolate him/herself there, thus reducing time with the family. It can also cut down on sleep, causing problems with tiredness the next day at school.
Pressure your local TV stations to schedule programming aimed at children and to get rid of commercials you find offensive. Let the station managers know not only what you do not like, but also what you enjoy. Good programs often have poor ratings, but letters of praise can help keep them on the air. Organizations like Action for Children's Television (46 Austin Street, Newtonville, ID 02160) have taken as assertive role in trying to improve TV programming for children.
If TV becomes a source of tension and conflict, simply unplug it for a while. Some families institute TV-free days or weeks. Children become very creative and are certainly more available when TV is not dominating their attention and time.
National TV-Turnoff Week 2001 - April 23-29
To promote healthier lives and communities, the TV-Turnoff Network encourages children and adults to watch less TV every April by participating in National TV-Turnoff Week. Year 2000's TV-free exercise was endorsed by US Surgeon General David Satcher, 32 state governors, and 61 other organizations. The event is now observed in 50,000 schools throughout the country, with organizers providing a variety of activities for students and families. Individuals or organizations interested in participating can order an organizer's kit from www.tvturnoff.org or by phone (800) 939-6737.
Seven Ways to Unplug Children From the TV Set
Parents can institute year-round rules that set some viewing parameters for their children. Joan Anderson, the co-author of the 1998 book Getting Unplugged (John Wiley & Sons), recommends some basic TV guidelines devised by educators for parents:
- Allow no TV on school nights.
- Make children accountable for their tasks in the evening. Empty their backpacks and look for instructions from their teachers.
- Participate in a no-TV week, if only because if forces you to spend more time doing something different with your kids.
- Have more conversations with your kids. When they come home, they have so much to say and want to tell you about their day.
- Limit the amount of time children can watch TV. Children actually want appropriate boundaries and limits.
- Make bedtime 8 or 8:30 pm for most elementary school-age children. They need more sleep than most parents realize.
- Allow no TV viewing before school.
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