Family
is the most important influence in a child's life, but television
is not far behind. Television can inform, entertain, and teach us.
However, some of what TV teaches may not be the things you want your
child to learn. TV programs and commercials often show violence, alcohol
or drug use, and sexual content that may not be suitable for children
or teens. Studies show that TV viewing may lead to more aggressive
behavior and less physical activity. By knowing how television affects
your children and by setting limits, you can help make your child's
TV-watching experience not only enjoyable, but healthy too.
How
TV affects your child
There
are many ways that television affects your child's life. When your
child sits down to watch TV, consider the following:
Time
Children
in the United States watch about 4 hours of TV every day. Watching
movies on tape and playing video games only adds to time spent in
front of the TV screen. It may be tempting to use television, movies,
and video games to keep your child busy, but your child needs to spend
as much time growing and learning as possible. Playing, reading, and
spending time with friends and family are much healthier than sitting
in front of a TV screen.
Nutrition
Children
who watch too much television are are more likely to be overweight.
They do not spend as much time running, jumping, and getting the exercise
they need. They also see many commercials for unhealthy foods, such
as candy, snacks, sugary cereals, and drinks during children's programs.
Commercials almost never give information about the foods children
should eat to keep healthy.
Violence
If your
child watches 3 to 4 hours of noneducational TV per day, he will have
seen about 8,000 murders on TV by the time he finishes grade school.
Children who see violence on television may not understand that real
violence hurts and kills people. Even if the "good guys"
use violence, children may learn that it is okay to use force to handle
aggression and settle disagreements. It is best not to let your child
watch violent programs and cartoons.
Sex
Television
exposes children to adult behaviors, like sex. But it usually does
not show the risks and results of early sexual activity. On TV, sexual
activity is shown as normal, fun, exciting, and without any risks.
Your child may copy what she sees on TV in order to feel more grown
up.
Alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs
Young
people today are surrounded by messages that say drinking alcohol
and smoking cigarettes or cigars are normal activities. These messages
don't say that alcohol and tobacco harm people and may lead to death.
Beer and wine are some of the most advertised products on television.
TV programs and commercials often show people who drink and smoke
as healthy, energetic, sexy, and successful. It is up to you to teach
your child the truth about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other
drugs.
Commercials
The average
child sees more than 20,000 commercials each year. Commercials are
quick, fast-paced, and entertaining. After seeing the same commercials
over and over, your child can easily remember a song, slogan, or catchy
phrase. Ads may try to convince your child that having a certain toy
or eating a certain food will make him happy or popular. Older children
can begin to understand how ads use pictures, music, and sound to
entertain. Kids need to know that ads try to convince people to buy
things they may not need.
Learning
Television
affects how your child learns. High-quality, nonviolent children's
shows can have a positive effect on learning. Studies show that preschool
children who watch educational TV programs do better on reading and
math tests than children who do not watch those programs. When used
carefully, television can be a positive tool to help your child learn.
A
word about...TV for toddlers
Children
of all ages are constantly learning new things. The first 2 years
of life are especially important in the growth and development of
your child's brain. During this time, children need good, positive
interaction with other children and adults. Too much television can
negatively affect early brain development. This is especially true
at younger ages, when learning to talk and play with others is so
important.
Until
more research is done about the effects of TV on very young children,
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television
for children age 2 or younger. For older children, the Academy recommends
no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs.
10
things parents can do
As a
parent, there are many ways you can help your child develop positive
viewing habits. The following tips may help:
1.
Set limits
Limit
your child's use of TV, movies, and video and computer games to no
more than 1 or 2 hours per day. Do not let your child watch TV while
doing homework.
2.
Plan your child's viewing
Instead
of flipping through channels, use a program guide and the TV ratings
to help you and your child choose shows. Turn the TV on to watch the
program you chose and turn it off when the program is over.
3.
Watch TV with your child
Whenever
possible, watch TV with your child and talk about what you see. If
your child is very young, she may not be able to tell the difference
between a show, a commercial, a cartoon, or real life. Explain that
characters on TV are make-believe and not real. Some "reality-based"
programs may appear to be "real," but most of these shows
focus on stories that will attract as many viewers as possible. Often
these are stories about tragedy and violence. Much of their content
is not appropriate for children. Young children may worry that what
they see could happen to them or their family. News broadcasts also
contain violent or inappropriate material. If your schedule prevents
you from watching TV with your child, talk to her later about what
she watched. Better yet, videotape the programs so that you can watch
them with your child at a later time.
4.
Find the right message
Even
a poor program can turn out to be a learning experience if you help
your child find the right message. Some television programs may portray
people as stereotypes. Talk with your child about the real-life roles
of women, the elderly, and people of other races that may not be shown
on television. Discuss ways that people are different and ways that
we are the same. Help your child learn tolerance for others. Remember,
if you don't agree with certain subject matter, you can either turn
off the TV or explain why you object.
5.
Help your child resist commercials
Don't
expect your child to be able to resist ads for toys, candy, snacks,
cereal, drinks, or new TV programs without your help. When your child
asks for products advertised on TV, explain that the purpose of commercials
is to make people want things they may not need. Limit the number
of commercials your child sees by watching public television stations
(PBS). You can also tape programs and leave out the commercials or
buy or rent children's videos.
6.
Look for quality children's videos
There
are many quality videos available for children that you can buy or
rent. If you have questions about children's videos or just want some
suggestions, contact The Coalition for Quality Children's Media at
505/989-8076 or visit their Web site at http://www.cqcm.org.
7.
Give other options
Watching
TV can become a habit for your child. Help your child find other things
to do with his time, such as the following:
- Playing
- Reading
- Activities
with family, friends, or neighbors
- Learning
a hobby, sport, instrument, or an art
8.
Set a good example
You are
the most important role model in your child's life. Limiting your
own TV viewing and choosing programs carefully will help your child
do the same.
9.
Express your views
When
you like or don't like something you see on television, make yourself
heard. Write to the TV station, network, or the program's sponsor.
Stations, networks, and sponsors pay attention to letters from the
public. If you think a commercial is misleading, write down the product
name, channel, and time you saw the commercial and describe your concerns.
Call your local Better Business Bureau, or send the information to:
Children's
Advertising Review Unit
Council
of Better Business Bureau
845 Third
Ave
New York,
NY 10022
Encourage
publishers of TV guides to print ratings and feature articles about
shows that are educational for children.
10.
Get more information
The following
people and places can provide you with more information about the
proper role of TV in your child's life:
- Your
pediatrician may have information about TV or can help you get
it through the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ask for the AAP brochure
Understanding the Impact of Media on Children and Teens
- Public
service groups publish newsletters that review programs and
give tips on how to make TV a positive experience for you and your
child. Check with your pediatrician.
- Your
local Parent/Teacher Association (PTA).
- Parents
of your child's friends and classmates can also be helpful.
Talk with other parents and agree to enforce similar rules about
TV viewing.
The
Children’s Television Act of 1990
The Children's Television Act ensures that TV stations pay attention
to the needs of children from age 2 to 16. Under this law, stations
must air at least 3 hours of educational and informational shows for
children each week. They must also limit advertising during children's
shows to 12 minutes per hour on weekdays and 10.5 minutes per hour
on weekends.
TV stations
that do not follow the law risk losing their licenses. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) makes sure stations obey the law.
For the law to be even more effective, keep tabs on TV stations in
your community and report any violations to the FCC. If a station
does not appear to be complying with the Children's Television Act,
inform the FCC by sending a written complaint to:
Mass
Media Bureau
Federal
Communications Commission
1919
M St, NW
Washington,
DC 20554
TV
Parental Guidelines and the V-Chip
In 1996,
Congress passed a law that gives parents the ability to control what
their children watch on television. The law set up a rating system
called the TV Parental Guidelines. The ratings can help parents avoid
programs that contain sex and violence. By using a computer device
called the v-chip, parents can block these programs from their televisions.
By 2000, all new television sets with screens 13 inches or larger
will have the v-chip.
The ratings
apply to all TV programs except news and sports. They can sometimes
be found in your local TV listings and appear for 15 seconds at the
start of a program. The ratings are as follows:
