Effect of Television Viewing on Child Development

Grace

Nowadays, television has been played a major role in most family households.

Although television was invented over half a century ago, it has now become a part

of most children’s everyday lives. Children have begun to turn to television for their

main source of entertainment .Television has its own good sides but research shows

that the disadvantages of television watching for children outweigh the advantages.

This is because it will affect children’s health, children’s educational development,

children’s cognitive skill and also children’s behaviour.

There are many negative health impacts of television watching for children.

First of all, children who love to watch television will affect their own health. To begin

with, they spend long hours watching television which has a very high probability of

damaging children’s eyesight. According to specialists, children who sit too close to

the television or children who watch television in a dark room will easily damage their

eyes (Schramm, Lyle and Parker, 1961). In addition to this, children who watch lots

of television can become obese and overweight. As Boyse (2009) discovered, the

majority of television advertising promotes unhealthy foods to children and this can

cause weight issues. Most television advertising promotes foods that are high in

calories, sugars and salt. They are also low in nutrients. Moreover, use of television

might have an impact on the amount and quality of sleep that children receive. The

studies found that children who have a television in their bedroom will get less sleep

and go to bed later compared with those who doesn’t have bedroom television (Must

and Parisi, 2009) . This may cause weight gain in children and...

... middle of paper ...

...sure the children’s mental and physical health are provided a happy and secure

home life.

Reference list

1. Schramm, W., Lyle, J., and Parker, E.B. (1961). Television in the lives of our children. London: Oxford University Press.

2. Gunter, B. and McAleer, J. (1997). Children & Television. London: Routledge.

3. Brown, R. (1976). Children and Television. London: Cassell & Collier Macmillan.

4. Boyse, K. (2009). Television and Children. Retrieved from

http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/tv.html

5. Must, A. and Parisi, S.M.(2009). Sedentary behavior and sleep: paradoxical effects in association with childhood obesity. International Journal of Obesity,

33(1), 84. Retrieved from

http://proquest.umi.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/pqdweb?index=3&did=1679663481&SrchMode=1&sid=6&Fmt=6&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1274613992&clientId=13713