As a mother, I know for a fact that television has a major influence on children. Unfortunately, not everything they watch is appropriate for them. Television has both a negative and positive influence on children. Considering that children spend more time watching television than any other daily activity, it is not a surprise that it will have an impact on their behavior. I find my children imitating what they watch on TV all the time, which is natural because that is how children learn to behave, by watching others. Parents need to realize that television should not be considered an alternative babysitter for their young ones. It is our job, as parents, to monitor what our children watch and provide them with an understandable explanation for what the media negligently provides on television.
We see drugs, sex, nudity, and vulgar language portrayed on practically every show or program on television. These issues are portrayed as a source of entertainment for adults. Children, on the other hand, should not be exposed to this kind of entertainment, especially at an age in which they don’t have the ability to make a distinction between reality and fantasy. Children seem to believe that whatever they see on television is a reflection of the ideal American family. Consequently, they start to imitate those less than perfect exhibits for the mere purpose of “fitting in” to this judgmental society. Children’s preference of clothing is another example of how television influences them. Young boys choose to wear clothes a couple sizes bigger than their own just to look like the “rappers” they see on television. The girls like wearing everything and anything that “Hannah Montana” or the “Cheetah Girls” are wearing. At school, if you wear anything outside of the latest fashion trends you are considered an outcast. So when I say that television has a major influence on our children, am I exaggerating? I don’t think so.
Due to the fact that there is a lot of negativity on TV, children should have restrictions to what they watch or at least be monitored while watching TV. If or when an inappropriate issue comes up during a program, the parent should explain to the child that what they’re watching is not real and is only provided to entertain. Children are naturally curious about everything. They are constantly asking “what, why, where, who, and when?” which is a healthy and normal learning process for all children. To satisfy that curiosity, it is always important to talk to them about what they see on television because they lack the ability to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy. They need to acknowledge that what is on television is merely entertainment.
Teaching our children what is or isn’t appropriate to watch is every parents responsibility. After all, it is just like teaching them basic moral standards. On a daily basis we teach our children that there is certain behavior or speech that is inappropriate and vice versa. That same principle should apply to television. By providing children answers and explanations to the negative messages that are being portrayed throughout TV programming, we help build a clearer perspective of television in their minds. I will not lie to you though, there‘s always going to be the inevitable question almost every child asks, “If it is not appropriate, then why do they show it on television?”, which is a question even parents want an answer to.
It is a known fact that children imitate the behavior of those around them. That is how they learn human behavior. Although most of the programs on television are inappropriate for kids, there are some educational programs, cartoons, comedies, and movies that portray respectful human ethics that are suitable for them. Some of the programs we watch as a family are “7th Heaven” and “Little mosque on the prairie,” which are suitable for families with religious beliefs. Programs like Sesame Street, Barney, Clifford, and Dragon Tales are some of my three year old son’s favorites. These kinds of programs are both educational and entertaining for kids. Children learn to count and say new words from watching these programs. It is because of these programs that we don’t totally disapprove of television.
(This is an essay I wrote for my English class. I thought it would be an interesting issue to post about. )
Great post, but I don’t think that anyone will pay attention to this problem, the TV and mass media has become the most influential effect on the raising of our children
By: Ulysses on April 18, 2009
at 7:55 am
I think it is very disturbing how people have become “comfortable” with the negative media these days. It has become part of our everyday lives seeing this kind of negative behavior on television that we have become accustomed to it. Even vulgar language has become a norm nowadays. The stranger and more dysfunctional the behavior portrayed on television, the better ratings it will achieve. What does that say about us, the viewers?
By: yemenia68 on April 18, 2009
at 12:54 pm
i agree with you in some points you have said
like
1- provide them with an understandable explanation for what the media negligently provides on television.
2- teaching our children what is or isn’t appropriate to watch is every parents responsibility.
3- these shows you talked about
in the psychiatric department there was a research about how violence in the media affects the children
and they said that the kids become more aggressive and more violent
by imitating what they see as you said
they also said as you’ve done that parents should sit with children while they watch the program or movie and tell them what’s real and what’s fantasy
what’s appropriate and what’s not
also i think we should provide children with more activities other than TV and video games like joining a swimming class or other sports
also provide them with these games that increase the intellectual functions of the brain
provide them with white papers and colours and let them pain and draw
we should not depend on tv to take our place in raising up the children
salam alyky
By: نعكشة on April 18, 2009
at 2:23 pm
Unfortunately, families hardly spend time together any more. The parents spend half their day at work and the children are in school, and by the time everyone gets home, everyone has their own separate activity. Weekends are spent resting or doing every other thing that wasn’t done on the weekdays.
The saddest thing of all is that each family member has their own television in their individual rooms, where they watch separately.
By: yemenia68 on April 19, 2009
at 12:52 am
from a person that grew up on TV (while we didn’t have unlimited supply of channels i had unlimited supply of videos that i picked myself).
Until university … i learned everything about anything from TV, and for the most part i’m fine so i don’t believe that it has a very damaging effect on kids, although i appreciate the harm that it can create.
As for the part about kids learning from TV i guess i was slow or something but for instance i saw my first intercourse scene when i was watching a movie with my sisters and i was 6 … i partly understood what was going on, i didn’t find it sexual and didn’t learn from it since it was disgusting…. and i watched the ultra violent hong kong b-movies, i did want to imitate them but i was limited by reality and my parents laughter.
So in the end i atleast had someone to learn from, and occupy my time with.
By: bambam on April 20, 2009
at 7:14 am
you are right but we discuss these stuff to change not just for discussion
also they are our children ( to be)
if we didn’t try to change for them , then who will do??
well actually it’s the mother’s role before everyone else
we’ve to tell the mothers about that
i donno wat am goin to do if i became a mother
but i think at least i’ll try to do the best of me
i think i heard hundreds of times that nobody will love me more than my mother
how that could be true if she let other woman teach me and spend time with me other than her
also this woman have no morals
this woman is (tv)
anyways
the long road starts with a step
salam alyky
By: نعكشة on April 20, 2009
at 8:08 am
Bambam:
Well, depending on how old you are, that might of been ok back then. I grew up the same way, and I turned out ok, but these days are quite different.
There are too many intimate scenes on daytime tv and violence. Back in the day, these kind of scenes were very limited. These days they have the worst kind of messages portrayed through the cartoons.
The worst in my opinion is the way the children disrespect their parents on television, they make it seem like its something cool to be disrespectful. It may be a comedy that we’re watching but that’s how it all starts, we get comfortable watching these actions portrayed and then start imitating them.
I can see it happening in society, kids don’t have respect towards elders like they used to. They dont even act their age any more. They try so hard to grow up beyond their time.
Trust me Bambam, you’ll understand this once you have kids.
By: yemenia68 on April 20, 2009
at 2:42 pm
na3kasha:
I agree with you, which is why I posted this.
By: yemenia68 on April 20, 2009
at 2:49 pm
Excellent site, keep up the good work
By: Bill Bartmann on September 3, 2009
at 10:40 pm
Thank you Bill and welcome to my blog : )
By: yemenia68 on September 7, 2009
at 7:01 am