TV influences a child’s psyche

The preliminary years of life are considered a critical time for brain development.

Television and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development.

According to Dr Sulata Shenoy, child psychologist, Turning Point Child
Guidance Centre, a child's brain is shaped by experiences is affected by external stimulation.

“The child's sense of self [psyche] and the external world is seen through the
perceptions and attitude that influences him/her, Television being one of them” says Dr Shenoy.

Television can be an excellent educator and entertainer. Television, however, can also affect learning and school performance if it cuts into the time kids need for activities crucial to healthy mental and physical development. Most of children's free time, especially during the early formative years, should be spent in constructive activities such as playing, reading, exploring nature, learning about music or participating in sports.

“Young children from ages three to 12 are usually unable to differentiate fact from fiction, and are vulnerable to believing all they see and hear. This happens because their judgmental sense is not active” she says.

Television viewing is a sedentary activity, and has been proven to be a significant factor in childhood obesity. Violence showed on television could make children less sensitive, fearful, and aggressive towards others
Viewers especially children feel an instant sense of relaxation when they start to watch television but that feeling disappears just as quickly when the box is turned off television forms a key factor for depletion of energy.

“Children are mainly exposed to television, television violence and television culture at home. Thus parents play a vital role in helping children to make sense of what they see on the television” adds Dr Shenoy.

It is very challenging for young children to make choices of what programmes they should watch. Pulling children away from television programmes is a challenge. Children's media is designed to get attention and keep it.

“Develop guidelines for your child as to how much television she/he can watch. The less the television time the better it is. Since young children do not have the concept of time, deciding on the number of shows they can watch can be an option. Select programs that are designed to promote positive development and learning,” adds Dr Shenoy.