Children_&_Television

Children and Television Stephanie Dias EDPS 620 Child Development Research: American Academy of Pediatrics There has been extensive research on topics related to children and television. Some have suggested television being the leading cause to childhood obesity, others have argued that television is used as a learning tool. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following: Pediatricians should become educated about the public health risks of media exposure through workshops and written materials. All state chapters and/or districts that have not done so should schedule a media education program for their members. Pediatricians should begin incorporating questions about media use into their routine visits, including use of the AAP's Media History form. This tool enables youth and parents to examine their media use habits and allow pediatricians to focus on areas of concern and offer counsel and support. Advice to parents should include the following: 0 encouraging careful selection of programs to view 1 co-viewing and discussing content with children and adolescents 2 teaching critical viewing skills 3 limiting and focusing time spent with media 4 being good media role models by selectively using media and limiting their own media choices 5 emphasizing alternative activities 6 creating an "electronic media-free" environment in children's rooms 7 avoiding use of media as an electronic baby-sitter 3. Pediatricians should urge parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years. Although certain television programs may be promoted to this age group, research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers have a critical need for direct interactions with parents and other significant care givers (eg, child care providers) for healthy brain growth and the development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Therefore, exposing such young children to television programs should be discouraged. 4. Pediatricians should serve as role models for appropriate media use by limiting television and video use in waiting rooms and patients' rooms, using educational materials to promote reading, and having visits by volunteer readers in waiting rooms. 5. Pediatricians should alert and educate parents, children, adolescents, teachers, school officials, and other professionals about media-associated health risks. Pediatricians should also alert and educate parents when positive media opportunities arise, either educational or informative. 6. Pediatricians should collaborate with other professionals, including the parent-teacher association, schools, and community groups, to promote media education. 7. Pediatricians should, along with other public health activists, continue to monitor media and to advocate for increasing educational and social programming and messages for children and youth. 8. Pediatricians should encourage their state and federal governments to explore mandating and funding universal media education programs with demonstrated effectiveness in American schools. 9. Pediatricians should encourage the government and private foundations to increase the funding available for media education research. In particular, more research is needed on media influence in the areas of sexuality, substance abuse, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile offenders who have committed violent or sexual crimes. During the first years of birth is crucial to brain development, which should be given the opportunity to foster new information instead is being overloaded with countless hours of television. “I feel very guilty because I have begun turning on Sesame Street for my baby when I start to prepare dinner. She seems to love it, but I’m concerned she’ll become addicted to TV.” (Eisenberg, Eisenberg, & Eisenberg, 1989) What To Expect The First Years reference to excessive viewing & the effects on family interactions that it creates a picture of a world that is distorted and inaccurate. There is no decent programming for a child that does not contain violence that we as adults grew up watching. Since 2009 a blogger has formed a campaign against Nickelodeon reporting that they are tired of the farting & booger jokes. A blogger reports that "Lazy Town, a show on Nick Jr. and Noggin, where a young girl hangs out with a 30-year-old man by herself all day long," warns the website. "He's 'her friend.' They sing and dance. He wakes her up in the morning. She wears skimpy little dresses." Options It has been suggested by “Offspring- Cracking the Kid Code” offers solution to this digital age. * Set a time * Know the show * DVR ASAP * Let ‘em get bored In this article they suggest setting a time limit (Fernandez, 2011)to watching television programs, this sets structure as well as limits. Knowing the show gives you as the parent the opportunity to know what your child is watching ability to determine what is viewed in your household. Berman also suggest using a DVR. This device is multi-functional, you are able to record shows that you would have missed but you can also preview what your child would watch before s/he would watch their program. Finally, if you just simply allow children to bore themselves they’ll create something they never would have thought of if they were staring in front of the television. First Lady Obama says parents should create Create Screen-free Bedrooms -- don’t put a TV or computer in your child’s bedroom. Kids who have TVs in their rooms tend to watch about 1.5 hours more of TV per day than those who don’t. In addition, having a TV in their bedroom can keep kids from spending time with the rest of the family. (Obama, 2010) “What To Expect The First Years” shares that use of audiotapes and recordings are also excellent tools in stimulating a child’s imagination. The early years of childhood development should be spent with your baby soaking up knowledge as a sponge, absorbing all that life offers. The television should be used as a learning tool. Your baby will understand images and as your baby gets older you can expand using explanation as to those images. In 2011, there are two National TV Turnoff Weeks: April 18th - 24th and September 18th - 24th Turn Off Your TV Week has become a semi-annual event emphasizing the importance of spending time away from television media. (Davis, 2011) This event is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association, and the American Medical Association. (Pitner, 2009) Links Between Childhood Obesity and Television Today most of the focus is on childhood obesity. Magazines, newspapers, online forum offers tips on getting up and out of the house. Schools are also joining in on getting children away from the television. By turning off the television, families are making a statement. They are saying that communication with one another is important. They are saying that time spent together in other activities is important. They are making a decision to not let television media run their lives, but rather to use television as a tool. (Pitner, 2009) In Fall of 2004, Nickelodeon, went off the air for three hours one Saturday and urge its young viewers to play instead. the plan was set to take place turn-off Oct. 2 at noon ET, when Nickelodeon typically has about 1.5 million viewers ages 6 to 11. Ironically, that day I remember I was turning the television on and to my surprise Nickelodeon aired live music and sports special that encouraged viewers to stay healthy and active. (Pitner, 2009) This issue is recognized by The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, in 2010, First lady Michelle Obama started an organization called Let’s Move. The challenge of kids’ getting up and moving around addresses the link between countless hours in front of the television and childhood obesity. First Lady Obama stress the importance of setting guidelines and limits for the television. On the website she provides parent with the tools needed to aid in setting these limits. There is a screen time log (http://www.letsmove.gov/pdf/Screen_Time_Log.pdf) to track how much time everyone is spending in front of a screen. To track your family’s physical activity, use the goal tracker (http://www.letsmove.gov/pdf/Goal_Tracking.pdf) Let’s Move Goal Tracker. As part of its $1 million commitment to provide grants through The Big Help campaign, Nickelodeon is awarding approximately $50,000 to schools and community organizations across the country to help create and expand opportunities for active play. (Pitner, 2009) In closing children need to be monitored by their parents. TV has unfortunately replaced the finer things in life such as family bonding, active play in the parks or even on the front stoop. Children and television equals a greater risk for childhood obesity and lack of imagination. Reference American Academy of Pediatrics, Division of Public Education. "Media History Form," Media Matters Campaign Kit. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 1998 Davis, J. (2011). School activities for "no tv week". Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_7880398_school-activities-tv-week.html Eisenberg, A, Eisenberg, H, & Eisenberg, S. (1989). What to expect the first year. Workman Publishing. Pediatrics (ISSN 0031 4005). Fernandez, sandy m. (2011). Taming of the tube. NY: Time Inc. Obama, M. United States Department of Agriculture , (2010). Let's move Washington, DC: Retrieved from www.letsmove.gov