Children and Television

Everyone loves to watch TV from time to time and children are no exception. There is programming on the air for children of all ages, but how much TV is too much? There are various physical and mental issues that can arise from watching TV for a prolonged amount every day. Plus you have to factor in other activities that could be done instead of sitting on the couch.
 
The old saying that parents had when the TV came out was watching too much of it would make your eyes rot out. This wasn't true, but mothers needed something to motivate their kids off the couch and into some sort of activity without looking like an evil person. While there are various scientific studies underway to determine what affects watching too much TV can have on your health there is also another method of study. This method is called common sense, and it can be put into practice without several years, and millions of dollars.
 
Common sense dictates that if you spend too much time watching TV and not enough time getting enough activity you will begin to gain weight. This is especially true for children as they need a certain amount of physical activity every day in order to grow up properly. Weight aside watching too much TV can also have behavioral impacts as well. Young children tend to be influenced by what they see on television and can act out on it.
 
If they watch a program that tells them to be disobedient to their parents, and to not respect authority in general then you will have a discipline problem down the line. Older children have less of a problem with this than younger ones do so you don't have to be as cautious. Of course you still have to be on the lookout for obscene material, but that comes with being a parent. Aside from this other behavioral problems can arise as well.
 
If people spend too much time watching TV and playing video games they tend to disconnect from people. While this may not seem like a problem in the short run in the long run it can have a severe impact on their social skills. Humans need social interaction with one another in order to lead happy healthy lives so make sure your children interact with friends or family often. Watching TV for too long can also dull the mind, and affect the creative thinking process.
 
Sitting on the couch for 6 hours a day watching TV is generally inexcusable unless it's a movie marathon and a family event. However there is a difference between wasting time watching cartoons all day, and spending time watching educational programs. Shows that are related to history, science, arts and other educational fields are a good thing for people to watch. It's important for people to continue to learn about the world, and children in particular can enjoy TV programs like these.
 
Though make sure you and they take frequent breaks in order to your eyes rest. Even with educational programs though you have to draw the line at some point and get active with something else. One alternative to television that seems to be ignored all the time is reading. Books were the precursors to television and provided many people young and old with entertainment for days and weeks at a time.
 
When children and young adults watch TV it leaves nothing for the imagination to dream up. You can watch science fiction and see the effects and comment on them. But you see them clearly, and it leaves nothing to think about. Reading science fiction on the other hand is another story.
 
When you read about a hero fighting off aliens and there are lasers and missiles firing in a book you can't see them because they are obviously not there. This forces your mind to kick your imagination into gear and bring the images to life for you in your head. This applies to all books and not just science fiction, but the point is it engages the creative thinking process.
 
Obviously you've never seen an alien and some authors leave their descriptions vague on purpose. This makes you think what it would look like, and then come up with other ideas for what it could look like. Books have inspired many great artists and thinkers throughout history and is an activity that should never be relegated to being boring. Inspiration and incentive to invent art or products can come from everything ranging from fantasy to historical texts.
 
Of course if you or your children are done reading for the day then you might want to consider doing other activities like crafts, safe science experiments, or maybe just building something. This applies to everyone regardless of age and can be especially helpful when done with kids. Sometimes it can be fun to just pick up some wood, some nails, and a hammer and see what you can come up with.
 
This spontaneous creativity is healthy, and it's also important for kids. A very important skill they will need in life is to learn to think outside the box. This is something that they learn from their parents and peers and not from television. After all TV is just entertainment, and not suited for raising, or even babysitting your kids.
 
Regardless of if you have children or are just concerned about yourself watching too much TV can be a bad thing. It can dull your mind and make you lethargic if you watch it for long periods of time. Watching it for a few hours everyday isn't bad, but make sure you have some physical activity to balance it out, especially if you have children. Remember there are always other things to do such as reading, playing, and occasionally building something random.