Pros & Cons of TV

The technology of television has broadened our horizons by bringing faraway places into our living room, revealing the diversity of science and nature and exposing us to sights and sounds beyond our local area. However, while adults can make informed decisions about what they see, the same is not true for children.

Wonder

The mysteries of the deep sea, the wonders of outer space and the animal varieties in the natural world can delight children and stimulate their imagination without exposing them to any danger.

Amusement

Kids may be entertained for hours with programs that engage their sense of seeing and hearing. Parents can go about their daily business at home, knowing their kids are occupied in one location.

Education

Programs designed to teach children, such as "Sesame Street," can expose them to vocabulary, math, science, history and art before they go to school. Such learning is also a useful supplement to classroom education.

Advertising

According to the National Institute on Media and the Family, a child who watches 3 to 5 hours of television a day can view up to 40,000 commercials each year. This increases their desire for expensive brand-name products and fuels disappointment when such items are not bought.

Violence

The National Institute on Media and the Family also reports that a child can be exposed to 200,000 televised acts of violence by the time he reaches 18. Aside from skewing his view of the world as a dangerous and untrustworthy place, these acts can increase aggression.

Passivity

Unlike the physical activity of outdoor games or the social interaction of classroom activities, TV watching is an isolating, inactive experience. The child is conditioned to accept information passively, instead of taking the initiative and seeking it out on her own.

References

• Pros and Cons of TV for Kids
• Pros and Cons of TV

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish