Television Is a Bad Influence on Children

Television is a Bad Influence on Children Televisions are a main item in many houses and in most cases there is more than one. The average American watches four hours of TV daily. Though, is all that television good or bad? Everybody has a different opinion and some more than others. When it comes down to studies though, doctors are on both sides. Therefore, it comes down to the studies and what people believe, is television a bad influence on children? To begin, television can be a bad influence on children. Dr. Dimitri Christakis stated, “Television can cause the developing mind to experience unnatural levels of stimulation.” Experts say children under two shouldn’t watch television. Then, older children shouldn’t watch more than two hours says the Children’s Hospital and Regional Centre in Seattle. Also, it has been proven that each hour of television young children watch increases the child’s chance of deficit disorder. Dr. Dimitri Christakis also stated that, “The newborn brain develops very rapidly during the first two years of life. It’s really being wired.” Lastly, these facts all support the reasoning of television being a bad influence on children.
In starting, television isn’t always a bad influence on kids. In a recent study when parents being asked if television was a good influence on their children, eight out of ten parents said yes. Three waters of parents said they don’t feel guilty when letting their children television because when appropriately managed and supervised they believe it can be positive says psychologist Tanya Byron. Carey Bryson says, “If there’s a subject your child enjoys, more likely than not, there is a TV show, movie, or educational DVD that explores the subject in detail.” Viewing programs with your children and viewing and selecting developmentally appropriate shows for them to watch can insure that children have a positive experience with television, says The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In closing, television can be proven to not always be a bad influence on children.
I believe television is not a bad influence on children. For example, Sesame Street is teaching young children healthy eating habits and how to stay healthy. Also, Dora the Explorer is teaching you kids how to speak in Spanish which could very well be useful later in life. Although, if parents let their children watch television all the time, it will take away from education and healthy habits, which is why it should be heavily monitored. There is also, some bad shows on television now, which is another reason young children should not watch television without a parent or an adult around. Research has said, that children exposed to the unrealistic levels of stimulation at a young age, are expected to have difficulty later in life with completing homework and having a slower pace in school. Those difficulties can come from anything happening in that child’s life at that time or anything else. I believe that if properly managed and observed television can be positive in a child’s life. To conclude, television can be both bad and good in a child’s life. I believe it can be a good influence. If properly managed and monitored it could have something to do with that child’s future. Proven both ways, studies have shown both side of this question. I trust that television is a good influence on children.