Positive/Negative Effects Television have on Children

Hypertext Essay

Television’s today have been the most used home product in all over the world.   Children get engaged to what is being seen on television.  If a child watches too much  television their mind may get hooked to it, which is not a good thing.   A child may become less active in what they use to do compare to what they are doing now  because of what is seen on television.  Spending less time with family or friends can  become a factor because of television viewing.              The positive effects that television can have on a child are preschoolers can learn colors, alphabets, and even numbers from watching certain TV shows.  They can do this by either  watching Sesame Street where they can learn their colors or numbers or to watching  Barney where they could learn their alphabets.   This shows positive effects on kids' behavior; programs with positive role models that can influence children to make positive lifestyle discussions.  For instance, by watching The Magic School Bus, children can get a glimpse of how our world exists and how they should keep it clean.  Watching television for about 2  to 4 hours a day is what children should be watching.  Learning reading comprehension by  watching the right shows on television is what young viewers should pertain to.  For a child who speaks Spanish and wants to learn English a good television show they should watch  is Imagine Island.  This show will help a child obtain more vocabulary because of what is  projected in this television show.  “Moderate TV viewing—one to ten hours a week—was  positively associated with achievement.”  Parents need to have positive rules for their child on what they should be watching.  Watching a show or movie with your child is  important so your child can see that family is essential.             The negative effects that television could have on a child are, too much television can slow down the mental development of a child.  Television viewing lacks a child to develop any opportunities for imagination which is important.  "The first 2 years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in  the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages  learning and healthy physical and social development."  Children who watch television for  more than 4 hours a day can turn out to be overweight.  Children need to have some kind of  workout, especially in the summer they should be doing sports or reading.  Children need  to have physical activity so their body can respond correctly to what they eat or even how their  behavior is controlled.  By a child watching television for awhile children tend to lack physical  activity.  Television addictions are becoming more popular now on children on the ways they  are watching television.  All the violence that is portrayed in television shows such as,  Pokémon or even Scooby-Doo these two shows children tend to mimic the negative behavior  shown.  Certain advertisements that children see on television can also get a child to start  eating unhealthy.  For instance, they see ice cream they will get their parents to buy it for  them.  Young girls if they see a clothing advertisement they want it automatically, that just  involves them to get something that is not necessary.  If a young girl for say at the age of  12 sees a commercial with a skinny model they may feel insecure about themselves and  that might cause negative effects to occur.  This is how anorexia is because when a young  girl thinks they are fat and start vomiting their food.  “Cable television satellite technology and  optical fibres are making more and more choices available, and this can become  overwhelming to both the television viewer as well as the surfer on the web.”  By this  technology is getting to much for certain people.  Television shows are just become  inappropriate for young viewers to be looking at.  Television globalization has become a  recognized threat to cultural diversity for children today.  It can separate a young child away  from family if they are not taught the correct way.  Television can be connected to the internet  because young children are viewing shows on the interest today.  “TV can promote risky  behavior, such as trying dangerous stunts, substance use and abuse, and irresponsible  sexual behavior.” YouTube for instance is where young children are watching videos they  should not be watching.  Negative effects for children tend to compare how much television  a child is watching vs. how much school achievement is getting completed.  More than 11  hours a week of television watching can bring down a child’s achievement.  “Violent threats  shown on TV can cause school-aged kids (8-12) to feel fright and worry. When the threat  is shown as news it creates stronger fears than when it is shown as fictional.”  Many threats  are being done by either a middle school child threatening a child they think is a nerd  because of what they are mimicking from TV shows.  Children need to watch what they are  viewing on television because if can cause a downfall to occur in their future.