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The Facts – The Negative aspects of Television
- Experts suspect that babies younger than two years old view TV as a confusing array of colors, images, and noises.
- Cartoons and many children’s shows are filled with images of violence. If you find this hard to believe, surf the TV on Saturday morning. Research shows that exposure to this type of programming increases the risk of aggressive behavior and desensitizes children to violence
- Babies and toddlers have a very literal view of the world. They can’t yet tell the difference between real and pretend. Research has demonstrated that many young children believe that TV characters actually live inside the TV set. This can confuse young children’s understanding of the world and get in the way of their learning what’s right or wrong
- Television watching can be addictive. The more that children watch, the more they want to watch. Even toddlers can become drawn to the set. Once addicted, turning off the TV can become a daily battle.
- Time spent watching television is time taken away from more healthful activities that nurture growth and development
- Children who watch a lot of television during their early years are at risk for childhood obesity, poor social development, and aggressive behavior. They often have trouble adjusting to preschool or kindergarten. According to a study by Yale Family Television Research, teachers characterized children who watched excessive television as less cooperative, less imaginative, less enthusiastic about learning, and less happy than those who watched little or no TV.
