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What
Steps Can You Take To Limit The Effect Of Television On Your Young
Child's Attitudes And Development?
- Make A Television Viewing Plan
For Your Family
One of the easiest ways to fall into
the "TV trap" is simply through lack of attention. When
we don't evaluate and choose TV viewing times the amount of television
watched in our houses adds up quickly. Make a viewing schedule
for each member of your family and stick to it.
Consider the following issues
when drawing up your plan:
- How Much Time Should A Young
Child Watch Each Day?
The American Association of Pediatrics
recommends no more than two hours a day for children over two
years old and no television viewing for children under two. This
does not mean that if your one and a half-year-old watches Teletubbies
once a week, it will impede her development. It does mean, however,
that what your child needs at age two is not television, but exploration
and interactive time. So for your child under age two, strictly
limit or even better, eliminate TV as part of her daily schedule.
After age two, try to stay within
the two-hour limit and ideally under it.
Choose the best times for you and
more importantly the best times for your kids. Sometimes a half
an hour of watching Barney can be relaxing after an hour outside
playing on the swings or a full day in kindergarten. If it will
help schedule TV time for right before supper so that you have
that half an hour to prepare and set up the meal.
Young children thrive on having a
set schedule. If your child knows your limits and you stick to
them, you will probably not have a hard time getting him to turn
off the TV. (As they get older, however, this becomes harder.)
Don't let your child wander into
the TV room and watch whatever is on. Look at the TV schedule
and choose, together with him if he is old enough, which one or
two shows he will watch in any one day. Don't assume that because
something is in cartoon form, it is appropriate for children.
Lots of fighting and violence take place on animated shows.
Try and coordinate the "right
shows" with the "right times." If these two do
not coordinate, then consider using a educational video at the
right times and let your child choose between several appropriate
selections.
What? I need TV time to get things
done!
I know that might be how you feel,
but consider that watching TV with your child can be a fun and
relaxing activity for both of you. You also need a break. Television
is something you can do with your child that doesn't require work
on your part.
Indeed, you can make TV watching
a more meaningful experience for your child. Suggest that your
child jump each time he hears a number or sing along to the music
with him. Co-viewing also gives you an opportunity to discuss
with your child what she sees. In this way, you can make TV time
interactive and not totally passive.
- Don't Use Television As A Babysitter
Parents tend to use television as
a built-in babysitter. Try not to do this. Instead, involve your
children in your daily activities so that you do not need the
TV as a babysitter. Let your children help you make supper or
sort the laundry. (I often let my two-year-old play with a load
of laundry while I sort the rest of it nearby.) I'm not denying
that sometimes television is needed in a crucial moment. I am
suggesting that before you use it in this way, think twice.
- Insist On Appropriate Physical
Activity
Don't let your child become a couch
potato. Young children need to be running, moving and exploring
physically. Let your child play with a ball to exercise his whole
body and draw lots of beautiful pictures to improve his fine motor
and hand-eye coordination.
Television is one possible way of
unwinding from a long day of physical activity. It should never
be the first stop.
- Don't Make The Television
The Center Of Your Family Life
If possible, keep the television
out of the living room or main family room. The location of the
television gives your child a message about the importance of
the television in their lives.
If the only thing your child sees
you doing in your spare time is sitting and watching television,
then don't expect him to choose a book. Show your children by
personal example that reading books, gardening or working around
the home can be as much fun as sitting in front of the television.
- Keep Track Of Your Progress
Write down your child's television
schedule and check on a regular basis to see if you are sticking
to it. Of course, all schedules need to be broken occasionally.
If you find that you are not sticking to the schedule at all,
however, then it may be time to reread this article and to once
again evaluate your schedule and your TV habits.
For more information about television
viewing and your young child, check out the following links:
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