Since the start children watch television much earlier than learning to use other forms of media (first of all - the Internet), it affects their development from a very early age, as a rule, before they begin to distinguish the moving images on the screen from the real world.
The benefits and harms of TV for children
TV - this is a very useful invention. It entertains and helps to acquire new knowledge, broadens the mind of the child, giving him the opportunity to see other countries and learn about other cultures, with whom he would never have encountered in the city. Finally, programs and films in which there are positive role models can encourage the child to certain changes in your life.
But there is another side: thanks to television children are likely to receive information that their parents would prefer them to hide, at least up to sixteen years, or even adulthood. The fact that television can have a negative impact on health, behavior and attitudes of the child, is now considered an established fact. At present, it formed a huge reservoir of information on the effects of TV on children, as on this topic over the past decade, thousands of studies have been conducted. The influence of TV on sleep
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, Weight, performance, children's behavior and many other aspects of life. TV robs the child the time he could spend on more useful activities - reading, sport, games, chat with family and friends, work.
Does the TV on the brain development of children?
As soon as more common are the special TV programs for infants and young children, scientists increasingly wonder whether they can watch the children under two years of age. While gaps in knowledge about the early development of the brain gets smaller, until it is not clear exactly how it is influenced by TV. Some studies suggest that frequent television viewing in infancy may be linked with the appearance of problems concentrating in the future, including with such disorders as attention deficit
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and hyperactivity. In addition, the TV can replace a child to read, and to minimize the likelihood that he will have the desire to read the book. Reading requires much more active thinking and long-term focus than watching television, and if the brain from childhood accustomed to passive consumption of information, then change something will be very difficult.
No matter how tempting the idea may seem a small child sit in front of TV, especially if the transmission is designed specifically for kids, experts recommend to do it as little as possible. Much more useful to talk to the child, singing to him (or with him), to read aloud, listen to music and play with it in different games. The benefits of these activities for the development of a child's brain has long been proved that it is impossible to say about television programs - including those who for whatever reason are called to develop.
Aggression, television and children
Since the 1950s, it was carried out hundreds or even thousands of studies on one issue: whether there is a link between violence on the screen and aggressive graying children. On the basis of the vast majority of research, scientists have concluded that such a link is. Violence on the screen can not only lead to aggressive behavior, but also cause nightmares, indifference to violence against other people, and at the same time - different fears concerning their own safety. Children who regularly see violence on TV, there is a significant reduction in natural capacity for empathy. It is worth noting a few facts:
- Before the age a child, on average, saw on TV 200,000 violent acts and 16,000 murders (the figures shown by studies conducted in the United States, but it is expected that now the data in the European countries, including - in post, close to the US, and moreover thanks to the spread of the Internet and video games can significantly increase the numbers);
- Two-thirds of TV shows and movies that are shown on television, contain elements of violence;
- Most acts of violence on the screen with impunity, and are often accompanied by jokes. This shows the effects of human suffering is very rare, and even rarer it becomes really realistic;
- Acts of violence on the screen are often presented as an enjoyable and effective way to get what you want;
- Children mimic the real-life violence that they see on the screen. At the age of eight years, children are not able to clearly distinguish between the real and the fictional world, which is why they can use behavior model of movie heroes, being assured that it is perfectly normal;
- Children who often see violence on the screen, there is often more aggressive behavior than the average person, moreover, a high level of aggression may persist into adulthood.
Television, the perception of others and yourself
Thanks to television, children easily accept and begin to take for granted a lot of stereotypes existing in society. For example, viewing a certain kind of TV shows and movies may contribute to the appearance of the child's racial prejudices and national kidney.
Men (- especially white men) in films and commercials usually show a strong and dominant, and women often are sexual objects. In recent years, the situation began to change slightly, but in general, television is still contributes to the development of ideas about what men and women are fundamentally different tasks and place in the community (note, for example, that household chemicals, utensils and other items needed in the household, usually tout woman).
Slender, with perfectly proportioned female characters on the screen may contribute to the development of eating disorders and the emergence of psychological problems in girls and women who do not meet the standard on-screen.
TV and health and children
A number of studies it was found that the more the child is watching TV, the higher the probability of the onset of the overweight and obesity. It's not just that they tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle; It plays an important role that they see a lot of advertising of junk food, and perceive it as a normal meal, and often view programs and movies accompanied by excessive consumption of high-calorie foods.
In addition, the TV may increase the likelihood that the baby will start drinking alcohol and smoking - is associated with both advertising and unhealthy habits
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Many on-screen characters.
Finally, there is a possibility of serious injury when trying to repeat the dangerous stunts that a child has seen on the screen.
