Excessive television watching in children may hamper their development in more ways than one. Besides turning them into 'couch potatoes' due to lack of physical exercise, studies show that the activity may leave indelible marks on the little ones' psyche. These effects however, may not be permanent and can be undone.
Excessive television watching in children may hamper their development in more ways than one. Besides turning them into 'couch potatoes' due to lack of physical exercise, studies show that the activity may leave indelible marks on the little ones' psyche. These effects however, may not be permanent and can be undone.
According to a study published in the recent issue of the British Medical Journal, though many studies have documented the negative effects of television on children, none have so far stressed that these marks can be erased. The study conducted by a Professor of Paediatrics at the Stanford University in California, on 225 third and fourth grade children, claims that children who are trained to watch less television show fewer instances of aggression and fear than their counterparts who continue with the habit of watching excessive TV.
In the study, the children who were made part of the experimental group were required to not only watch less television themselves, but also to instigate their peers to do the same. The children in the experimental group were not allowed to watch television for 10 days and after that were allowed to watch no more than 7 hours a week. They were encouraged to make prudent choice of television programmes and video games. The results of the study revealed that the aggressive episodes of experimental children reduced by almost 25 percent, as perceived by their peers and as observed during informal play sessions.
This study, if replicated on a larger scale, could mark the onset of research in the direction of rehabilitative care for children who have already suffered from the damaging effects of violent television. According to previous studies enumerating the negative effects of television watching on children, televised violence may cause PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in children, making them aggressive and fearful. Since television is an interactive medium, children often imitate the acts of aggressive models and may not always be able to distinguish reel from real. However, though the study would make many a caregiver heave a sigh of relief, in this case, prevention definitely seems to be a better idea than cure.
According to a study published in the recent issue of the British Medical Journal, though many studies have documented the negative effects of television on children, none have so far stressed that these marks can be erased. The study conducted by a Professor of Paediatrics at the Stanford University in California, on 225 third and fourth grade children, claims that children who are trained to watch less television show fewer instances of aggression and fear than their counterparts who continue with the habit of watching excessive TV.
In the study, the children who were made part of the experimental group were required to not only watch less television themselves, but also to instigate their peers to do the same. The children in the experimental group were not allowed to watch television for 10 days and after that were allowed to watch no more than 7 hours a week. They were encouraged to make prudent choice of television programmes and video games. The results of the study revealed that the aggressive episodes of experimental children reduced by almost 25 percent, as perceived by their peers and as observed during informal play sessions.
This study, if replicated on a larger scale, could mark the onset of research in the direction of rehabilitative care for children who have already suffered from the damaging effects of violent television. According to previous studies enumerating the negative effects of television watching on children, televised violence may cause PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in children, making them aggressive and fearful. Since television is an interactive medium, children often imitate the acts of aggressive models and may not always be able to distinguish reel from real. However, though the study would make many a caregiver heave a sigh of relief, in this case, prevention definitely seems to be a better idea than cure.
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