As children grow parents have to work with them to establish a routine and limit their screen time
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Television fascinates children. It keeps them engaged. It works well as a babysitter. But some children spend way too much time watching television. When television becomes an addiction, it's natural for parents to be concerned. Their concern is justified too. According to various researches, television continues to negatively affect children and adolescent lives.
I remember my children watching television after school in the US during the 1980s and 1990s. Thanks to educational programs like Sesame Street, Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, Where in the world is Carmen Santiago, Reading rainbow, Square one TV and other such programs, explaining concepts became easy. You must be wondering: how do I know about all these programs? Well, I was their television-watching partner on weekends and after school. We had a working agreement that involved their commitment to finish their homework first, play outside for an hour and then my commitment was that I would watch their programs with them.Right now, TV watching among children has increased extensively in Nepal. What children watch after school hours is questionable. Apart from Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon that rerun cartoons, there is not much for children to watch to enhance their knowledge base. So once they get bored, they usually switch to Hindi serials their parents and relatives watch. Chances are these programs are not appropriate for children's consumption as they have an abundance of adult material. This might come as a shock but parents are entirely responsible for children's actions when they imitate something in the serials.
Out of curiosity, I once asked one of the complaining parents when their children started watching television. I was surprised to hear that they had no clue. They forgot that they used television as a babysitter to start with. It is possible that parents put on some cartoons for their young children while they did their work. Initially it worked fine, but later it became a problem, because the child wanted to watch the TV even when there was nothing appropriate. Such is the fascination of audio and visuals for growing up children. Our job as parents is to use this resource to our advantage and not let it get out of hand.
Before television appeared, there were big joint families, with all kinds of people and lots of children, to run around and play a variety of games. This helped in the development of children's mind and body. Unfortunately, with modern nuclear families, all these wonderful learning opportunities, critical for brain development, have been taken over by TV and other electronic media. At this point parents are thinking how best they can use this powerful influence of TV as a resource.
Keeping in mind that the first two years of a child's life are considered critical for brain development, we need to plan such that TV and other electronic media do not get in the way of children exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others. As children grow we have to work with them to establish a routine to limit screen time so it does not interfere with their other activities. Yes, TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer, but in moderation. Too much TV can have negative impact on a growing child.
Children are likely to imitate the violent actions of TV serials. Along with it comes the fear that the world is a scary place and children can be paranoid about something bad waiting to happen to them. At the same time, they might also develop penchant for risky behaviors like smoking and drinking while reinforcing gender roles and racial stereotypes. Of course, zero TV is not an option.
I believe the best way is for the parents to teach children that television viewing is only occasional entertainment. Children will accept rules you implement early, but not after a few years. Monitoring and controlling TV use for all, including us parents, is the key to success. Various researches have found that children under the age of eight do not understand commercials sell products. I am sure parents remember singing commercials as kids.
When it comes to commercials, even older children need frequent reminders that commercials are just advertising gimmicks, not to be taken seriously. Some of you may say: "It's impossible to eliminate exposure to marketing messages". Yes you are right, but the least you can do is educate your children that commercials are just advertising tools. Before you think of controlling TV, parents need to understand that children watch TV partly because they are bored and partly because they want to watch their favorite programs.
Under such circumstances, watching TV with your child and discussing programs is the best option. Still better would be limiting the time spent in front of TV, starting with you. Always make a point to switch off TV during mealtime. Limit the number of TV hours for everyone. Also make sure to separate homework time and TV time.
Finally, it is up to the parents to decide really early what role they want TV to play in the life of their children. You don't have to feel: "Oops I messed up!" You can still do it. You have a perfect alibi, load-shedding. Make good use of this opportunity. Remember monopoly, chess and board games?
Every child has something that they like doing. Some might like to play outdoor games like football, cricket, and badminton or swimming. Don't put them off if they want your permission to do those things, rather encourage them, and if possible accompany them. Some might like to work in garden or play musical instruments or even dance or read books. As parents it's possible to set aside some time for your children. I know most of you are already doing it, if not give it a try.
The author is an educationist and author of several books on children
usha@pokharel.net
