Is watching too much television really harmful for kids?
Of course, this depends on the amount of viewing by the child as well as the type of program watched. There are a large number of great programs specifically for children of various ages, and if you choose high-quality programs appropriate for your child’s age from among them and minimize the viewing of commercials, you no longer need to feel guilty about letting your child watch television.
However, here are some points you should pay attention to:
1. Leaving the television on constantly: Leaving the television on constantly at home causes parents’ communication with their children to decrease; a communication that is very effective in their growth and healthy development. At different times of the day and night, turn off the television sometimes and chat and play with your children.
2. Having a television in the bedroom: Children who have a television in their bedroom watch television much more than children who do not have this facility, and they are also more exposed to programs with inappropriate content. It is strongly recommended to avoid placing a television in your child’s bedroom.
3. Parents who watch too much television: Children imitate the habits and behaviors of their parents. Moreover, when parents sit and watch many programs, naturally children also watch adult programs a lot, and this issue is not good at all.
4. Commercials: It is difficult for children to distinguish reality from fiction. When they see commercials, they are tempted to follow and buy, which makes them vulnerable to watching commercials.
5. Watching programs with inappropriate content: The excessive exposure of children to images containing content of violence, sexual matters, alcohol and alcoholic beverages, or bad language and cursing will not only affect the child’s behavior, but can also have long-term emotional impacts on them. For example, watching violent scenes leads to increased violence, aggression, and even anxiety in children because the world will appear to them as an unsafe and dangerous place.
6. Negative impact of television on the eyes: It is no secret that watching television, especially in a dark room and from up close, causes eye strain, vision problems, and headaches.
7. Reduction of physical activity: Naturally, sitting on the sofa in front of the television for hours on end causes a reduction in the child’s movement and physical activity, and this itself leads to obesity and an increased likelihood of contracting various diseases.