The Educational Value of Television

Young Children grow up with an attachment to their favorite television shows and fall in love with the characters they see. These relationships can blossom into life lessons on friendships, manners, early learning education, and much more. The results from the adults in their lives not fostering these relationships correctly and limiting the viewing to age-appropriate shows are not evident until later when it has affected the child. The early years of a child’s psychological and cognitive development are the most important. When parents allow younger children to watch shows targeted for older children (and adults), their cognitive development bypasses the fundamental lessons teaching them about issues and problems they are not yet equipped to handle. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study noticed there were unique reciprocal effects between positive parenting and child's cognitive abilities found at nine and twenty-four months. (Park, 2012) Adults must understand the necessity of age-appropriate, learning-leveled television shows for children to prohibit the detrimental effects that watching inappropriate television shows has on them.
The relationship between a child and the television shows they watch can have a huge impact on their lives. There are cartoon shows that teach math skills, problem solving, natural science, engineering, music, collaboration, and second languages along with intrapersonal, emotional, and social skills. These lessons are important and age-appropriate for young children. When young children watch shows meant for teenagers (or even adults) they learn about issues beyond their comprehension. This can lead to the desensitizing of children to inappropriate behaviors, sex, and violence. It allows them to think these situations are appropriate for them to act out. Television as a source of maltreatment of children discusses the effects of TV on a child’s behavior, especially on aggressive and prosocial behavior. It is maintained that heavy exposure to TV violence is one of the causes of aggressive behavior, crime, and violence in society. (Eron, Huemann1987) It probes into the relationship of behavior to inappropriate television shows for children of all ages. A healthy relationship with television is not based solely on the content of the programs a child watches. The length of time a child spends watching television can have adverse effects, as well. In a controlled environment, television can be a good distraction for children and give parents time to complete household chores. Watching too much television can halt developmental motor skills. A child watching television may be sitting quietly and still, but does nothing for coordination and curiosity. Television can dull a child’s mind if allowed to watch for extended periods.
Children need age-appropriate, educational television shows and not just senseless cartoon to watch. With the exception of children under the age of two, networks produce television shows targeted for children in different age groups. This helps keep children on suitable topics geared toward their specific age group. These television shows still need to be “parent-approved,” since the ages per group can run anywhere between three and five years. What may be appropriate for a twelve-year old may not be as comprehensive to an eight-year old, even though they are in the same targeted age group. The American Academy of Pediatrics claims the material shown in television shows targeted toward older children and adults can affect younger children It claims that excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. The findings are consistent with a causal association and support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of television each day. (Robertson, McAnally, Hancox 2013) There are networks geared toward children, most notably Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and The Disney Channel, which divide their shows between selected age groups. Their design is to teach children how to deal with situations they are currently facing, as well as early educational subjects. Children need this type of teaching for their developmental stages of learning. The world of Psychology learned from Jean Piaget who was a Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher in what we now refer to as Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development. There are four stages: Sensorimotor - occurring from birth to two years, Preoperational - from two years to seven years of age, Concrete Operational – ages seven through twelve, and Formal operational – adolescence to adulthood. Each of these stages requires age-appropriate teaching to help a child learn and grow on their own age level.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the messages conveyed through television, which influences their perceptions and behaviors. (Pediatrics 2001) They cannot discriminate between what is real and what is scripted. It is hard for them to internalize their feelings appropriately, when they watch televisions shows geared toward a more mature audience. If a child sees a parent argue with an adult child, they cannot discern that both are adults. The child only sees the parent - child relationship and may think that that behavior is acceptable. Children allowed to view television shows that contain mature language are more apt to use it themselves. If a child hears their beloved characters calling each other names, they tend to think this behavior is acceptable, when in reality it is not. Television shows, especially cartoons not meant for young viewers can teach children that serious situations are funny. An adult cartoon that makes a drug addiction or violence seem funny does not help a child that could face these same situations one day. Television shows can corrupt a child’s morals if they watch something beyond their level of comprehension at too young of an age.
Gone are the days of watching Elmer Fudd hunt Bugs Bunny (the wascally wabbit) or Wile E. Coyote chasing Road Runner with zany antics. Today’s television shows have matured inappropriately. It is no longer safe to allow a child to pick out what they want to watch with the growing number of cartoons targeted toward adults – featuring adult situations. Adult cartoons, even those on prime time television touch on topics unsuitable for young viewers. Sex, homosexuality, violence, and immoral behaviors seem to be what adult cartoons contain. These situations are for mature audiences – not children. There is no way to differentiate between a cartoon for children and a cartoon for adults until you watch them. Parents would be shocked if they knew what cartoons have become over the last few decades. Granted, there was a small amount of violence when Elmer Fudd shot at Bugs Bunny, but there was no blood, the characters did not die, and the theme was not revenge. It was camaraderie between characters. Neither side won, neither side lost. Cartoons today have bloodshed and decapitation. This is not something small children need to see, let alone laugh at. There is nothing humorous about death. A childhood should be a bit sheltered while allowing children to find their own voice with the help of characters like Dora the Explorer not Robot Chicken. There is an endless supply of information from studies created to determine the effects television has on the younger generation. Children should not be allowed the chance to become numb to the seriousness of the mature material television shows contain. Parents need to screen television shows for their children. This means the adults need to watch a full episode of each television show and cartoon to determine its appropriateness. Most television sets are equipped with the V-Chip that restricts what children can watch. These chips empower parents to control a child’s viewing material through the television ratings. It is not the same as physically watching the program for approval, but there is merit to it. According to an article in a Memphis newspaper, the chip would allow parents to block, from their home television sets, any programs that a ratings system identified as containing excessive sex and violence. All new television sets 13 inches or larger are to contain a V-chip. (Commercial Appeal 1995) This tool could be a parent’s best friend, if all parents would use it. Adults need to keep children within the safe boundaries of age-appropriate, learning-leveled television shows until they are psychologically ready to handle more mature situations.

References

Park, Y. (2012). Parenting behaviors and cognitive development in early childhood. (Order No. 3539598, The Florida State University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 165. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1095535062?accountid=458. (1095535062).
Eron, Leonard D.; Huesmann, L. Rowell. (1987) Television as a source of maltreatment of children. School Psychology Review, Vol 16(2), 195-202. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1987-27835-001
Robertson, L. A., McAnally, H. M., & Hancox, R. J. (2013) Article: Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adulthood. pp. 439 -446 (doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1582)
PEDIATRICS ( 2001) Vol 107 No.2 Article: Children, Adolescents, and Television pp. 423 -426 (doi: 10.1542/peds.107.2.423)
SCREENING TV using 'V-chip,' parents could protect children. (1995, Jul 13). The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/393655681?accountid=458