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Excessive television can cause emotional disorders
Isolation is one of the biggest problems faced by children in the urban set-up. It creates a feeling of loneliness and leads to many psychological problems. A child, who interacts with people of different age groups, develops interpersonal skills and has a healthy state of mind. However, with a rise in the trend of nuclear families in which both parents work, children do not find anyone of their age to talk to. This makes them crave for a meaningful relationship, which is not fulfilled by any of the parents.
Television helps to relieve depression and this feeling of loneliness. It's like a virtual world for children. Thus, it diverts the child's attention and contracts the psychological damage caused by lack of absolute relationships. However, a study shows that watching television decreases the metabolic rate in children below 10 years. Those who watch it for more than four hours a day are likely to become overweight. Compulsive television viewing is an addiction. Often, the television may also reveal things that adults may not want children to know. Excessive television can create emotional disorders like anxiety, fear, phobias, childhood stress and eating disorders. It also reduces children's learning abilities and affects their academic achievements. Moreover, their thought process becomes shaped by values imparted through a medium, which is only meant for entertainment and has no qualitative or moral relevance most of the times.
A blanket ban on television viewing is not advisable. As a parent, it is important to control the number of TV watching hours. Secondly, the television should be in a common room where it can be viewed by the entire family. Personal watching of television (in children's bedroom) should be avoided. It should be turned off during meals and the family should get together at least once a day to discuss the day's events through a casual conversation. Children should know and feel that they are an important and integral part of the family and their feelings and problems are taken care of.
—Gayatri Pande, psychological counsellor
Unbridled access is a major problem in most homes
Television watching habits have become a major problem in many households, especially among housewives and young children. There are several aspects to it; firstly, long and extensive viewing can be a problem for vision. It can affect other tasks — like domestic chores in the case of women and homework and school assignments in case of young children. Some children are hooked on to cartoon channels and stay glued to the TV set for close to four to five hours during vacation time. They want no interference then and become abusive and start fighting with parents and guardians, if they are interrupted and counselled. Moreover, the ambience in the house is also disturbed on this account. Some members may come back home after a long day at work and want some peace. At times, children even compromise on their dinner just to watch their favourite programmes. Schools should encourage children to watch quality television channels on history and geography.
—Dr Sukhdev Khadtare, General Surgeon
Even innocuous cartoon shows are violent in nature
The average time that children spend watching television has increased. It's because there are a number of TV shows and dedicated cartoon channels that attract children. However, all TV shows are recreational in nature with just a few being educational. Mostly cartoon shows are violent in nature, they have a deep impact on the psyche of a child. At a growing age, children need more physical activities. But parents find it very difficult to dissuade children from watching television. There are various reasons why children are addicted to television. In many cases, parents themselves are captivated and keen to watch various shows. Children only emulate them. Sometimes parents want time for themselves, so they inculcate the habit of watching TV among children.
Watching television for a long time is not good for children. Hence, if you want to curb your children from watching TV, parents must limit their TV time and not watch it when children are at home. Parents must engage children in activities like outdoor sports, dance, music and painting.
—Neha Patel, child psychologist
Allow only a limited TV viewing duration
My children get only three hours to work on the computer or watch television in the house. Rest of the time, they are engaged in their studies and hobby classes like swimming, soccer and chess. The good thing is that I don't need to monitor them always because they hardly get time to watch television. I trust them a lot and in turn, they respect my liberal attitude. They are quite disciplined when it comes to following the rules of the house. They watch few programmes like detective serials and films. —Pooja Bedi, actor
Real growing up happens outside the world of television
The Bombay high court verdict in this case is absolutely right. Children are highly receptive and easily influenced by what they watch on television. As they do not understand right from wrong, parents need to rationalise and filter what they watch so as to maintain a balance of what they learn from it. There is so much violence on television now that you have to filter it out. I also do not believe that this is a real loss as television provides a complete package with ready visuals and audio whereas when children read books, they have to create their own images, thus using their mental faculties. As it is, real growing up happens outside the world of television. Consider this: when you play a game like football, you need hand-eye coordination and constant mental alertness. Television robs you off that ability.
—Deepak Dalal, Children's Writer
It should not affect their performance in school
I allow my children to watch television, but not during examinations or crucial years. It is definitely a distraction. When children have holidays, it is okay but once school starts, they should be able to concentrate on studies. It should not affect their academic performance. The age gap between my children is three years and the younger one is in standard X this year. So, the television viewing at home has gone down a lot over the last three years. I do not think television is entirely bad, but it's not good either and can affect a child's academic performance if watched in excess.
—RK Sontakke, parent
If used wisely, it can add to a child's development
T do not believe television is bad for children. In fact, if used wisely, it can add to a child's development. We have an orientation, where we ask parents to let children watch television, but to monitor their viewing. Television has many useful programmes and cartoons nowadays. It is not all junk. Take National Geographic and Discovery for instance. I also remember a cartoon called Dora, the explorer, which inculcated inquisitiveness and a will to explore in children. In our programme, we show children educational DVDs along with cartoons to take their mind off the regular curriculum.
—Ketan Gala, director, Leapbridge International Pre-school
Thinking just stops when the television is on
Television is a strong medium today and a popular choice of the masses. In fact, it is also responsible for addictive behaviour among users. Children are the latest victims of this tool. Watching television for hours together takes away their skills of imagination and visualisation. When you read books, you try to visualise every sentence. Moreover, books stimulate your brain and make it active. This is crucial for the growth of reasoning power. Television does not leave anything for children to do as the sounds and visuals are handed on a platter. We have become helpless with the modern technology that has been forced on us. However, it is definitely playing with children's psychology. It is no surprise that nowadays there are so many deranged youngsters who suffer from obsessive and compulsive behaviour.
—Prakash Kesarkar, Senior Citizen
Do not use the medium as a pacifier or babysitter
When you have children in the house, cartoon channels will rule the television. Children have an inseparable bond with them; they laugh, learn and get entertained. I can vouch safely for channels like Animal Planet and Discovery, which are educative, art based and also instill creativity among children. Mythological serials may inspire children to become courageous. However, not all viewing is entirely innocuous.
Watching a lot of TV reduces social skills, limits reading and impedes normal family life. Besides, persuasive advertisements that come at the end of each show egg the new generation to spend. We must ensure that we don't use the medium as a pacifier or babysitter. Limiting your own television viewing and choosing programmes carefully will help your child do the same.
—Rashika Vazirani, lawyer
Too much of anything is bad, so limit TV viewing habits
Watching television is not bad, but it should be in limit. Children should be allowed to watch cartoons that are not violent or use abusive language. Once they are a little older, National Geographic and Discovery are good choices as these channels provide general and scientific knowledge. Films are okay as long as children do not go overboard. In case, a child has a special talent in singing, acting or dancing, he should be allowed to watch certain programmes that will help him harness his abilities. Entertainment is not everything and too much of anything is not good.
—Satish Gaikwad, parent
Nowadays, parents are unaware about viewing habits
Yes, these days children love spending time in front of the idiot box. I don't think it's a good phenomenon. Sometimes, parents are unaware about what their children are watching. Even children do not like to be told about what to watch on television. Usually, during the vacations, children spend time watching TV or playing computer games. Limited viewing is acceptable and that is less than two hours a day. Rather than reprimanding children for watching TV, they should be kept occupied in activities and hobbies like arts, craft, sports, music and reading books, that they enjoy. Playing indoor or outdoor games is also a good option rather than passive TV watching.
—Surendra Lad, proprietor |
