TV is a major influence in society and a constant companion in many homes. It has its good points but there is a downside to television as well -- especially for small children.

Following are some "negatives" you should be aware of, and some do’s and dont’s that will help you make TV viewing a more kid-friendly event.

Negatives:

  • Couch Potato Syndrome
    Children actually enter a trance-like state when watching TV and their metabolic rate lowers. This undesirable physical state can increase the chance of obesity and raise cholesterol levels and minimize overall fitness.
  • Developmental Lags
    Heavy TV viewers score lower on reading scores, and generally do less well overall in school than light TV viewers do. Infants and toddlers who are glued to the tube may develop speech and language skills later than their peers. In children of all ages, it can lessen creativity and imagination.Reading requires a child to fill in details, colors, actions and backgrounds, sharpening their thinking and imaginative skills. In TV shows, those details are already provided on the screen.
  • Poor social skills
    Children who view a lot of TV are used to passive entertainment. They are reluctant to entertain themselves and they interact less with people and their environment. Families can drift apart from too much TV viewing. Communication between family members is often decreased, and opinions, feelings and family values go undiscussed.
  • Increased levels of fear and aggression
    Children under 7 have difficulty telling the difference between reality and fantasy. They tend to see events on TV as things that happen to them and people they love. Acts of aggression, violence and news shows with graphic depictions of accidents and natural disasters can instill a lot of fear and anxiety in a child. Seeing TV violence may increase aggressive behavior in children and make them less sensitive to the effects of violence.

To counteract the downside of TV viewing for your child, try implementing some of these do’s and don’ts:

Do:

  • Set and enforce limits.
    A child under the age of 18 months can do without any television at all. At age 18 months, a half-hour per day is sufficient. At age 2, you can increase viewing time to one hour per day.
  • Watch TV with your children. Make the experience interactive.
    This prevents your child from lapsing into a trance while watching and helps to stimulate learning. Comment on what you are seeing or ask your child a question about what is going on. Get him to participate in singing and dancing.
  • Be selective as to content.
    Look for programming that is commercial free, has music, appealing characters, and some educational value. Avoid shows that are violent or scary.
  • Preview shows if possible.
    Tape the show and watch it yourself, before allowing your child to view it. This eliminates the possibility of your toddler seeing things you’d rather she didn’t see.
  • Counteract the negatives.
    If you see something violent or scary, be sure to talk about it with your toddler. For example, if you see a fire on a newscast tell your child, "Gee, that house on fire was scary, but look, no one was hurt." Reassuring explanations can eliminate a lot of fear and confusion.

Don’t:

  • Use TV as an electronic baby-sitter.
    Would you hire a caregiver that talked endlessly, never listened to your child or never responded to questions or dealt with your toddler’s concerns? Of course not! If you use your TV as a sitter, however, that is what you are doing -- allowing unlimited input with no loving interaction.
  • Use TV as a comfort mechanism.
    TV isn’t there to calm, soothe or cheer your child up. If your toddler is feeling emotionally low, the best thing to do is to talk to him. Try to determine and fulfill his needs. This fosters coping skills and reinforces the parent-child bond better than any TV show can!
  • Offer TV as a bribe, or take it away as a punishment.
    Associating TV with good behavior, or by making it a reward or privilege a child can lose, makes it more tantalizing. It is best to have a child view TV as a limited form of entertainment.