If there is one subject that is guaranteed to get parents talking, it’s how much TV should your children be allowed to watch.
The debate has raged for years. Some people argue that children shouldn’t be watching any TV at all, and should instead be using their spare time to play outside, exercising their bodies and their imaginations. Others argue that a little TV exposure isn’t going to do any harm, provided it is kept moderate and children also engage with other activities. Then there is the third argument; one that suggests concern about TV watching is unnecessary, that it’s a safe and enjoyable hobby, and that kids deserve downtime too. This group will usually point out that the current millennial generation – the generation most likely to be parents to young children at this point in time – grew up watching plenty of TV, and there is seemingly little impact from this choice.
Who’s right?
Well… almost everyone, to an extent. Like most things in life, you can find someone to decisively “prove” anything, if you look hard enough for a specialist to agree with you.
However, there is one group that we can largely rule out: the group that advocate for anything-goes policy in regards to TV watching. As www.kidshealth.org detail, children who watch more than four hours of TV per day are more likely to be overweight, which suggests that frequency and longevity are undeniably linked to negative ramifications for children. While these people may argue that the millennial generation have not suffered from watching plenty of TV as children, a UK study reported on www.bbc.com did find that millennials are set to be the “fattest generation” of all time. As we know definitively that obese children are more likely to become obese adults, there is at the very least a correlation of sorts here.
So, while scientifically we can agree that a no-holds-barred approach to TV watching is likely to be a bad idea, we are still left with two approaches to consider: no TV, or some TV.
What are the reasons people say that TV is bad for children?
To try and decide between these two approaches, we have to look at why people advocate for a no-TV approach – as this is the more “extreme” choice, it is the one most worthy of consideration.
People tend to argue that TV is bad for children’s brains and activity levels. The activity levels argument is undeniable; if a child is sitting watching TV, then they’re not exercising or playing. However, the brain activity is worthy of further consideration.
When people talk about TV affecting children’s brains, there is little evidence to suggest this is a genuine physical concern – watching TV does not literally damage your brain. This may come as a surprise, given that the refrain that TV will “rot your brain” is a common one. However, as reported on www.scientificamerican.com, new studies are suggesting this link, once believed to be true, is perhaps not as reliable as people thought. We can thus conclude that there is little evidence that forbidding TV is essential for children’s development, though more research is needed in this area.
What about other factors?
Of course, the literal physical impact of watching TV is not the only concern for parents: there is an ethical and moral consideration too. This centers more on what children watch, rather than the actual medium they are viewing it by.
As a result, this factor is not particularly worthy of consideration, because it remains entirely within the parents’ control. If you don’t want your children to watch advertisements, or watch shows with questionable messages, then you are empowered to influence this. With broad services from the likes of www.optimum.com that allow you to select an internet service and TV package capable of delivering a wide variety of programs without worrying about exceeding broadband limits, it’s easier than ever to have complete control over what your children can watch.
So how much TV should children watch?
Scientifically, there is no reason not to allow your children to watch some TV – at least, pending further research in this area. An hour or so per day may allow your children to relax and unwind, and may be particularly helpful in helping homeschooled children switch from “school” mode to “home” mode. You can further enhance the TV watching experience by ensuring that your only allow your children to watch educational programs that you approve of and, where possible, watching the program with them. This should help remove concerns regarding the impact of content on your children’s self-esteem and well-being.
We can thus suggest that you control the content that your children are exposed to, and limit TV watching to fewer than four hours per day, then there is no reason not to allow your children to watch some TV. It is clear that watching TV should be a behavior your children engage in, rather than the behavior; it is still advisable to take steps to encourage imaginative play and outdoor activities wherever possible. However, as part of a well-rounded schedule, there is no harm to allowing your children to watch television.
Final thoughts
However, there is no denying that this choice is a personal one, and is influenced by a number of factors. Some parents may feel their child is better off without TV in their lives; others will need TV to help keep their kids entertained while they work or take care of household cleaning and chores.
This, of course, is one of the reasons this debate tends to be eternal: it’s entirely subjective, and depends heavily on the lifestyle of each individual family. As every family lives differently, there is no definitive “right” or “wrong” answer. This is why we have chosen to focus on an evidence-based approach that empowers parents to ensure they make the right decision for them. You have to make the decisions that suit you, your family, and your schedules at this point in time.