My child is a TV addict! what can I do?
by Dr Teoh Hsien-Jin &Ms Woo Pei-Jun
Harry is a TV addict. If he were not at school, he would
be at home lying in the living room, mesmerised by the television. He watches anything
on the television and never seems to go out to play or read. Getting him to bed
is also difficult as he screams and shouts to watch the television. Harry's parents
are at their wits end!
Does Harry sound similar to what your child is like? Does your child watch television
all day and doesn't seem to do anything else? Even when he is eating or doing his
homework, it has to be in front of the television. If the answer is 'Yes !', then
your child might be a TV addict!
Parents are generally concerned about the effect of television on their children.
Fears of aggressive behaviours, deteriorating schoolwork, and other non-social imaginative
play create worrying visions in the minds of many parents.
Watching television has its positive and negative sides to it. Educational programs
with proper guidance can be a window to a world of events and ideas that you and
your family would not otherwise experience (i.e. countries, underwater world, scientific
laboratories). However, when your child watches too much television at any time
of the day that they like, it results in many negative effects.
One of the many negative effects of violent television programmes is an increase
in children's aggressiveness. Research has linked the amount of television viewing
with an increase in children's aggressiveness in play and more frequent fights with
others. Children are likely to imitate and learn new forms of aggression by watching
violent characters on television.
Too much television also means less time for playing with friends, reading or playing.
There have been reports showing that heavy television viewing is associated with
reduced school performance, poor reading ability and decreased enthusiasm for school.
When your child spends a lot of time watching television, there is less time for
studying, thinking and reading. Physical activities are essential for children's
normal social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Children learn through
doing and manipulating objects. Watching television is a passive way of receiving
information and it decreases active learning.
Watching television also reduces family dialogue between adults as well as between
parents and their children. The child might develop a habit of waking up in the
morning watching television, going to school and returning home to watch more television
until bedtime. In this case, there is no time for meaningful interactions between
the parent and the child. In some extreme cases, children who are developmentally
slow might not develop proper communication and socialisation skills.
what to do:
Set a limit: Television viewing should be limited to
between 30 minutes and an hour daily for preschoolers. If your child has difficulty
with schoolwork, then homework should be completed before they are allowed to watch
television. Be firm and consistent with your household rule. If you do not treat
the rules seriously, neither will your children. However, be reasonable about the
limit you set and if there are special programs, allow your child to take advantage
of the opportunity.
Monitor type of programs watched: Teach your child
about which programs they are allowed to watch and which are forbidden. Do not encourage
violent or R rated programs. When it comes to cartoons, carefully watch to see what
the cartoon is all about as research has shown that children who watch violent cartoons
tend to have more nightmares and fears.
Encourage activities and reading: Play with your children
or take them for a walk, go to the zoo, the science centre or even play a sport.
Encourage them to do other activities by participating in them yourself rather than
sitting at home watching TV! Read to your children as often as possible.
Praise your children for good viewing habits: Praise
your child for turning off the television at the end of a show, or for watching
educational programs.
Watch TV with your children: Watch television programs
with your children and talk about the characters that are caring and sensitive.
Use the television programs to discuss topics such as sharing, trust, and cooperation.
Help your child distinguish between the world of fantasy and make believe, and the
real world. Discussions with children about television programs can help to integrate
television experience into learning about new ideas.
Set a good example: As adults, we have to realize how
much television we watch. Try to be honest with yourself. If you are a television
addict, and are watching television to escape the stresses of the day, your children
will learn to do the same. So examine your own viewing habits, and if you watch
too much television, make it a point to read more, play with your children and take
time for hobbies or other constructive activities.