In the digital era, parents often prefer allowing their preschool children to watch TV. So, it becomes important to know the merits and demerits of such an undertaking. It could seem harmful to many parents. However, many parents find it helpful as their kids watch TV.
Parents may make better decisions if they know both the positives and downsides of their children watching TV. In this article, we will explore eight benefits and drawbacks of watching TV with your child. It will give you a thorough rundown to help you make better parenting decisions.
Is Watching TV Always Bad for Kids?
Watching TV isn’t always harmful. It can offer several benefits when done thoughtfully. Here are four benefits of children watching TV:
- Educational Content: Many TV shows educate kids by teaching social skills, alphabets, colours, and numbers. Shows like “Dora the Explorer” and channels like National Geographic Kids provide excellent learning opportunities. It can grow a preschooler’s cognitive development and sense of wonder about the world.
- Language Development: Seeing well-made children’s television may help promote language development. Kids should engage in shows that include rich talk and storytelling. Toddlers may enhance their language abilities and increase their vocabulary. For example, shows using many languages or vocabulary exercises might be helpful for kids to understand different languages.
- Cultural Awareness: Children may be exposed to a variety of cultures and customs via television. It promotes acceptance and understanding of the world. A child’s viewpoint may be expanded and empathy for others can be fostered by watching shows that feature other lives and cultures.
- Family Bonding: Families may strengthen their bonds by watching TV together. When parents and kids watch educational shows together, they may talk about what they watch. It helps promote learning and create shared experiences. By doing this, parents can also keep an eye on what their kids are seeing and make sure the content is suitable.
These benefits highlight the positive side of children watching TV. Still, it is crucial to balance screen time with other activities to maximise these advantages without leading to dependency.
What are the Drawbacks of Watching TV for Kids?
Children who watch TV have some major drawbacks despite its positives, especially if their screen time is out of control. Here are four disadvantages of watching TV for children:
- Reduced Physical Activity: Watching too much TV can make you less active. A child’s growth depends on physical movement. Excessive screen time might replace active play. This decrease in physical activity may be a factor in health problems. It can cause obesity, impaired motor function, and low physical fitness.
- Impaired Social Skills: Kids may not be able to connect with others as much if they spend too much time in front of the TV. Social skills are formed in real-world events. Too much screen time may make it difficult for kids to read social signals, speak, and make friends.
- Sleep Disturbances: A child’s sleep habits may be affected by watching TV, particularly just before bed. The hormone that controls sleep, melatonin, may be produced less often when screens emit blue light. This disruption might affect a child’s mood and concentration. It can cause trouble going to sleep, poor quality sleep, and feeling worn out.
- Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Not every TV show is appropriate for kids. Kids should not see inappropriate content if they don’t have an adult watching them. This could change how they act and think. To reduce this danger, it is crucial to make sure the content is suitable for the target audience’s age and consistent with family values.
It’s important to consider the benefits and drawbacks of TV viewing for kids. Parents should aim to control TV-watching schedules that include educational material and promote play and other learning activities.
Tips for Parents
There are certain guidelines parents can follow to enhance the benefits and decrease the drawbacks of their children watching television.
- Set Limits on Screen Time: Tell your child when to stop watching TV and stick to it. Decide in advance how much time your child will spend watching TV. For children aged two to five, it is better not to exceed one hour of high-quality television per day.
- Choose Age-Appropriate Content: Select programs suitable for your child according to his or her age group. Look at shows in advance to make sure they are suitable and helpful.
- Co-View and Discuss: Talk to your kid about the shows you watch and the material you discuss. To support learning, ask queries, clarify ideas, and make links between the show and actual events.
- Encourage Active Play: Limit your time in front of a screen and do lots of outdoor activities. Encourage sports, outdoor play, and artistic activities that foster social and physical growth.
- Create a TV-Free Zone: Set aside certain parts of the home, such as the dining room and the bedrooms, to be TV-free spaces. In addition to creating limits, this may encourage better behaviours.
Television, like many aspects of modern life, has both positive and negative impacts on children. The benefits of preschoolers watching TV can include educational growth, language development, cultural awareness, and family bonding. However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the disadvantages of watching TV for children, such as reduced physical activity, impaired social skills, sleep disturbances, and potential exposure to inappropriate content. By regulating screen time and being selective about what preschoolers watch, parents can harness the benefits while minimising the drawbacks. Understanding this balance will help parents provide a well-rounded upbringing for their children.
At Kangaroo Kids International Preschool, we focus on the holistic development of kids. Enrol your child with us for a nurturing and enriching educational journey. Contact us today to learn more about our programs!
