Television viewing plays a major role and influence in our children's lives.
Violence on the screen
Advertisements
There is evidence that children younger than 6 or even 8 years of age do not understand that the purpose of advertising is to sell a product. Also, children have trouble distinguishing between ads and programs. Children are easily influenced by the advertisements on TV and are often keen to buy the products that are flashed on the screen. You will have to work out your own strategy on handling this. It would be a good idea to discuss the health of the family and the balancing of the domestic budget with children. They will appreciate being able to make informed decisions and not just be passive recipients of goods. The task requires patient parenting and it is a continuing responsibility. It is important that you tell your children that the purpose of advertising is to sell products to as many viewers as possible only.Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
- Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.
- Children may be more fearful of the world around them.
- Children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others.
- View TV together and discuss the violence with the child. Talk about why the violence happened and how painful it is. Ask the child how conflicts can be solved without violence.
- Explain to your child how violence on an entertainment programs is actually fake.
- Restrict violent videos.
- Encourage your child to watch programs with characters that cooperate, help, and care for each other. These programs have been shown to have a positive influence on children.
- Read to your child rather than watch television. Children's stories, written by thoughtful authors, portray conflict in a more realistic and constructive manner.
Monitoring television viewing
Children are very impressionable and it is important to control what their minds are exposed to. Health experts recommend the following guidelines for parents:
- Limit the amount of time children spend in watching TV to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day.
- Remove television sets from children's bedrooms.
- Discourage television viewing for children younger than 2 years, and encourage more interactive activities, such as talking, playing, singing, and reading together.
- Monitor the shows children and adolescents are viewing. Most programs should be informational, educational, and nonviolent or programs which demonstrate helping, caring and cooperation.
- View television programs along with children, and discuss the content.
- Set a weekly viewing limit. At the beginning of the week, have your child select programs you approve of from television schedules.
- Rule out TV at certain times such as meal times and sleeping hours.
- Remember that children learn from their parents. If you watch a lot of TV, chances are your child will also.
- Parents should work out a timetable for watching television with their children.
- Discuss with your child what is real and what is make-believe on TV. Explain how television uses stunt actors, camera zooms, dream sequences and animation to create fantasy.
Advertisements
There is evidence that children younger than 6 or even 8 years of age do not understand that the purpose of advertising is to sell a product. Also, children have trouble distinguishing between ads and programs. Children are easily influenced by the advertisements on TV and are often keen to buy the products that are flashed on the screen. You will have to work out your own strategy on handling this. It would be a good idea to discuss the health of the family and the balancing of the domestic budget with children. They will appreciate being able to make informed decisions and not just be passive recipients of goods. The task requires patient parenting and it is a continuing responsibility. It is important that you tell your children that the purpose of advertising is to sell products to as many viewers as possible only.
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