2008 Woodie Awards
TV is affecting our youth's intelligence
Television effects in early toddler years
By: Eliana Granados
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: News
How many of you remember waking up early Saturday morning to watch your favorite cartoons? Or better yet, run home as fast as your little legs could carry you after school to watch your favorite shows?
With more available television programming, this is still a common ritual for many children. However, studies have shown that too much television can affect a child's mental focus later on throughout their education.
California State University, Stanislaus senior and physical education major Brittany Mitchel recalls coming home from school and waking up Saturday mornings to watch her favorite shows.
"I used to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, etc, but I don't really think they affected my education," Mitchel said.
According to a study done in health magazine Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, written by Barbara A. Dennison, MD at the Research Institute for Bassette Healthcare in Cooperstown, N.Y., "Television viewing has increased significantly during the past twenty years, in part because of increased program development, availability, and marketing."
Several studies have demonstrated television affects in school from children as early as five years old, but it is concluded that in order to derive children from being sucked into the world of television, parents should keep their children involved in activities as early as two years old.
In the study, Dennison explains that "Television viewing has been associated with increased violence in play and higher rates of obesity and although there are interventions to reduce television by school-aged children, there are none for younger children."
So, what it is advised to parents to reduce their child's television viewing? Simple tasks such as reading them books to enhance their literary skills or spending quality family time at the dinner table for example.
Encouraging sports and other outdoor activities at a young age can instill in the children the value and fun of physical activity.
According to Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, enrolling a child in pre-school or a day care center as soon as possible is the best way to keep the child active and away from the increased violence and high rates of obesity that affect children today.
"Not all television is bad, there are a lot of educational shows out there," said Mitchel. "Yes, television can affect kids, but I think it depends on the personality that the child has, whether they are easy to influence or not."
Dennison finishes the study with an explanation that says "Television increases viewing associated with adverse effects, including higher obesity rates and increased violence, both of which have been shown to decrease after reductions in viewing hours."
If you would like to learn more about this study or other similar studies, visit the Arch Pediatric Adolescent Medicine magazine Web site.
With more available television programming, this is still a common ritual for many children. However, studies have shown that too much television can affect a child's mental focus later on throughout their education.
California State University, Stanislaus senior and physical education major Brittany Mitchel recalls coming home from school and waking up Saturday mornings to watch her favorite shows.
"I used to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, etc, but I don't really think they affected my education," Mitchel said.
According to a study done in health magazine Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, written by Barbara A. Dennison, MD at the Research Institute for Bassette Healthcare in Cooperstown, N.Y., "Television viewing has increased significantly during the past twenty years, in part because of increased program development, availability, and marketing."
Several studies have demonstrated television affects in school from children as early as five years old, but it is concluded that in order to derive children from being sucked into the world of television, parents should keep their children involved in activities as early as two years old.
In the study, Dennison explains that "Television viewing has been associated with increased violence in play and higher rates of obesity and although there are interventions to reduce television by school-aged children, there are none for younger children."
So, what it is advised to parents to reduce their child's television viewing? Simple tasks such as reading them books to enhance their literary skills or spending quality family time at the dinner table for example.
Encouraging sports and other outdoor activities at a young age can instill in the children the value and fun of physical activity.
According to Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, enrolling a child in pre-school or a day care center as soon as possible is the best way to keep the child active and away from the increased violence and high rates of obesity that affect children today.
"Not all television is bad, there are a lot of educational shows out there," said Mitchel. "Yes, television can affect kids, but I think it depends on the personality that the child has, whether they are easy to influence or not."
Dennison finishes the study with an explanation that says "Television increases viewing associated with adverse effects, including higher obesity rates and increased violence, both of which have been shown to decrease after reductions in viewing hours."
If you would like to learn more about this study or other similar studies, visit the Arch Pediatric Adolescent Medicine magazine Web site.
Be the first to comment on this story