Television

Christopher Travers English 101 Date: 2/22/10 Paper # 2 Topic: Benefits of television Style: (comparison-contrast) Looking back at the last fifty years of television, we notice that it’s a lot different now than it used to be. Like it or not, it’s an inescapable part of modern culture. We depend on TV for entertainment, news, education, culture, weather, sports—and even music. Fifty years ago the programs were absolutely nothing like the shows we now have an interest in. The television wasn’t a necessity back then. It was a luxury only to those who could afford it. In our present society it is said that in a 65-year life, a person will have spent 9 years with their retinas glued to the tube. That’s 78,885 hours spent lounging in front of our television sets. Some people feel that the television set has a negative influence on a growing child while others argue that it can, when utilized properly, be an effective learning tool that can assist in teaching early childhood developmental skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents should discourage all forms of television watching within their children up to the age of two. The AAP also suggests that preschool-aged children should only view good-quality programs and not for more than 1-2 hours a day. They feel that some of the negative effects include lack of cognitive development by keeping the children distracted instead of exploring their world and reading books. By doing this they believe that you will become a passive viewer instead of an active learner. The AAP also strongly feels that your child‘s social developmental skills will suffer as a result of spending less time playing with others. This will cause your child to miss the benefits of peer group experience. Other “side-effects” include lack of nutrition and fitness, and behavioral and attitude changes. One of over 4,000 studies that are currently being conducted on TV's effects on children states that the average American youth will spend about 900 hours a year in school, yet he will watch 1,500 hours of TV in a year. They point out that over seventy percent of our children’s daycares have a TV on regularly. They go on to say how the average child will watch 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school. By age eighteen, the average American will have seen over 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders. Some even blame the television for the obesity problems our youth as a nation struggles with. Children are not the only Americans suffering from weight problems; one-third of American adults are overweight. According to an American Journal of Public Health study, an adult who watches three hours of TV a day is far more likely to be obese than an adult who watches less than one hour. Now with the facts and statistics shown you’re probably thinking, how can this same device be beneficial to a child' Shows like Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Yo Gabba Gabba, The Wonder Pets, and other children shown alike, all claim to teach children by making learning an everyday adventure. They do this by showing kids educational television shows, even games that suit your child’s learning style. These shows and activities are shown to help kid’s developmental skills such as their self esteem, mathematical skills, language skills, and critical thinking. Nick Jr. is said to be the best when it comes to teaching your child through interactive television viewing. Nick Jr. is a block of programming that airs on the popular Nickelodeon network. Nick Jr. airs programs such as Dora the Explorer, the Wonder Pets, Go Diego Go, and Blue's Clues. This television network itself is enough to keep yourself and your child occupied for hours. There are very few preschool-targeted television networks that rival Nick Jr’s quality content. The shows are fun, age-appropriate, and educational, with loveable characters that most preschoolers adore. On their website there's a great video library that shows kids how to make fun snacks or clean up the beach. And the excellent parent section has lots of activities to print and do offline. So when it comes to the TV, we have two options. We can use it to watch meaningless garbage or we can utilize this invention to help further our kids early childhood development. The argument as to whether or not the TV is good for our little ones is a dispute that will not soon be settled. Is it better to have your kid watch TV or go and read a book' This question will remain in the minds of millions for years to come. As for me, I believe that TV time is a vital part of our common society, yet I also feel that there should be a strict limit on not only the amount of television our youth watches, but the quality of the shows that they are watching. I also believe that children should have time set throughout their day to go outside and explore. So is TV good or bad for kids' Who knows, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.