Bad Behaviour: Parents are the Problem, not TV
For years television has been the convenient scapegoat, blamed for its negative impact upon children’s ph[removed]nullo();ysical, mental and emotional development. However, the reality is not quite that simple.
According to psychologist, Shelley Hall, parents should not be too quick to cast the blame all on a medium that can and does positively influence children. The onus is upon them to accept responsibility for their children’s television viewing and ensure that the experience is beneficial because, as a learning aid, it can be invaluable in the imparting of life-skills, numeracy and literacy.
“Although there are still many more questions than answers, one thing is becoming clearer as we continue our research: No electronic medium’s effects are all good or all bad; it’s the content and amount of time that makes all the difference,” says Hall.
She advises that parents should review television listings ahead of time and decide what they want their children to tune into. Lessons are not only learnt from overt educational programming but also from entertaining shows that have lessons embedded in them. For example, whilst watching an episode of Scooby-Doo, young children are receiving messages about the importance of team work, problem-solving and not always accepting everything at face value.
Studies conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2003 found that in a typical day more than eight in ten (83%) children under the age of six use screen media, with those children averaging about two hours a day. Media use increases with age, from 61% of babies one year or younger who watch screen media in a typical day to 90% of 4 to 6 year-olds.
“Television can be used as a medium to ensure that children hear, see and express themselves, their languages and their life experiences. The medium can offer youngsters a sense of empowerment and be a place of education where both self and community are affirmed,” says Alan Musa, VP and GM, Pan Middle East and Africa for Turner Broadcasting Systems. “The reality is that children today are even more media savvy than their counterparts from the 80’s and 90’s and it is critical that parents understand and monitor the electronic and virtual viewing and interactions of their children. Teaching good television habits will make the viewing experience a time of laughter, learning and bonding in the family.”
Hall says that whilst the temptation to allow the television to play nanny does exist young children reap the benefits of television when they watch with their parents. They learn from observation and model their behaviour on what they see around them. While research has shown violent television programming increases aggressive behaviour, the reverse is also true. This leaves the responsibility with the parents to select programs that model the way in which they desire their own children to behave.
“Children tend to interact with a television show, singing along with favourite songs and posing questions about the actions of the characters. Parents can enrich this viewing experience by answering questions, expanding on observations they make and tying what they see in with something that has occurred in their daily life. Another important aspect of television is that it provides an opportunity for parents to discuss fantasty/acting vs reality – the differentiation of which is an essential element of childhood development,” continues Hall.
Turner’s Musa adds, “Our children’s programming, while entertaining, covers important, real life issues like lying, stealing and bullying providing parents with the platform from which to discuss these ethical dilemmas and strengthen the core value and belief systems that they consider important. At another level, it also exposes children to different cultures, activities and experiences that they may not normally meet in their daily lives providing a broader, more informed view of the world.”
As with all things, balance and control are vital when it comes to television viewing. Observe and enjoy the medium with your children; limit the amount of time spent in front of the screen; and turn the experience into a family occasion. This will ensure that your kids enjoy the positives offered by the medium and escape the negative impacts so often associated with television viewing.
Ends.
