How many hours does your child spend in front of the TV everyday? Many of us are convinced that our kids (and we ourselves!) cannot live without TV. TV keeps our children entertained and no doubt there are many good programmes on TV that can really be beneficial. But lets take a look at all the things that your child is missing when watching TV.
Television prevents a child from doing the following:
- Scanning, sifting and analyzing information and then applying it to everyday situations.
- Practicing motor skills, be they gross or fine.
- Practicing co-ordination of eyes and hands.
- Using more than two senses at a time to expand the appreciation of his environment.
- Asking questions and receiving helpful educational answers.
- Exploring and using his curiosity.
- Exercising initiative or motivation.
- Being challenged
- Thinking analytically
- Using his imagination
- Practicing communication skills.
- Improving verbal skills
- Writing and reading.
- Being either creative or constructive
- It does not promote the ability to concentrate for long periods because of its flicker
- It does not promote logical, sequential thinking because the action shifts constantly backwards and forwards and laterally in time.
Most experts recommend not more than one hour of TV viewing on weekdays and two hours on weekends.
What can you do to discourage excessive TV viewing?
- Do not put a TV in your child?s room.
- Set a maximum time that your child can watch TV per day / week. Make agreements with your child on specific, acceptable programs, and specific time for viewing.
- Insist that your children complete their homework before watching TV, and do not keep the TV on while homework is being done.
- Switch OFF the TV at mealtimes.
- Set an example: There?s no getting away from this! If your child sees you watching TV whenever you are free, you can hardly expect him to be different.
- Introduce your child to alternate activities.
Here are some activities that children usually enjoy that do NOT involve TV:
- Outdoor play
- Music
- Reading
- Board games
- Card games
- Building blocks
- Hobbies and crafts
- Household chores
- Pretend play, dressing up in adults, clothes
- Walks
- Sports
- Conversation with friends
and occasionally, doing nothing.
Make a list of things that your child enjoys doing and next time you ask them to switch off the TV, suggest one of these activities. It may take a while to wean them off the TV, but once they really begin to enjoy the alternatives, it will be much easier. And MUCH better for them in the long run!
