Children and TV: The Negative Effects of Television

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Hi,
How many hours do your kids spend in front of the TV? Kids these days spend over four hours on TV per day according to the Kaiser Family Foundation study. I don't know about you, but I limit my children only one hour of TV per day. My children most probably will grow up to remember what I said most often "Go outside and play!" ....;-)

Don't get me wrong. I think watching 'certain' TV programs is a good way to enlarge children's knowledge and stimulate children's curiosity and encourages them to find out more from books or Internet. Having said that, watching TV have many bad effects on the children too. It is believe that the brain goes into alpha brainwave state when watching TV. This state feels relaxing and viewers become less alert and more passive. The state is comparable to hypnosis and critical brain functions are shut down. Not to mention that TV causes ADHD symptoms in children .... plus many more.

Should you trash your TV? Probably not but you should control your children's TV watching in terms of time and desired programs. Children need to discover the active knowledge by themselves rather than passive knowledge which is told to them by TV. Good luck!

Thought for today:
" Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. " - Chinese Proverb

Best Regards,
Andrew Loh
Andrew Loh
Publisher & Editor, BrainyZine
andrew @ brainy-child.com

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The Negative Effects of Television
By Alex Wattermann

Televisions have become essential and irreplaceable in most households for a long time. Children are very fond of watching TV and some parents are happy about that because it may stop their children playing around and destroying things. But do you know what are the negative effects of TV? Read more here!

My Child Watches Too Much TV
By Scott Wardell

Are you concerned that your child is watching too much television? This article provides parents with some television guidelines that may help you to gain control of your remote control.

Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn--and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less
By Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D

This book shows why and how to step away from the cult of achievement and toward a more nurturing home life full of imaginative play and love of learning. Play is Back!

Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten: Raise IQ points by up to 30 points and turn on your child's smart genes Points
By David Md Perlmutter, Ph.D

Perlmutter, a neurologist and physician, helps parents utilize that "brief window of opportunity in a child's life when parents can help create a brain that is built for optimal performance." Some of the book's advice ought to be common knowledge—establish a healthy diet, avoid toxins and limit television and video games - but Perlmutter's detailed guidelines take the guesswork out of smart parenting.

How TV can drive your kids GA-GA
independent.ie June 5, 2007

Excessive TV viewing before age three has been shown to be associated with problems of attention control, aggressive behaviour and poor cognitive development.

Study finds heavy TV viewing by babies
ChicagoTribune May 19, 2007

Researchers said they were surprised not only by the number of hours young children are spending in front of the television but also by the primary reason: Most parents are using television as an educational tool, not for the more conventional explanation of baby-sitting. Despite nearly a decade of warnings by pediatricians to the contrary, parents believe the content of programs aimed at babies is good for brain development.

A First Glimpse At Healthy Brain And Behavioral Development
ScienceDaily May 19, 2007

Yes, there are gender differences in cognitive function, but they're more limited than previously thought. And yes, income does affect cognitive performance -- but less than expected when only healthy children are considered. And while basic cognitive skills steadily improve in middle childhood, they then seem to level off -- questioning the idea of a burst of brain development in adolescence.

Finger length key to child's success: study
National Post May 24, 2007

Parents may be able to predict how well kids will do in math and reading by measuring their fingers, British scientists claim. The hormones in the womb that create good math skills also make a child's ring finger longer than the index, or pointing finger, say University of Bath researchers.

Academics debate role of 'play' in education
National Post May 29, 2007

To understand the competing pressures on children's education, consider the two very different approaches advocated in the titles of these academic papers delivered this week to the Canadian Society for the Study of Education: "Where Did All the Toys go? Play and Learning in the Early Primary Classroom," and "From Educational Neuroscience to Neuropedagogy.".

Stress in pregnancy may affect the unborn child
Innovations-Report May 31, 2007

Stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy may have an effect on her unborn child, most likely mediated by the transfer of stress hormones across the placenta.

Prenatal Health and Nutrition Omega-3 Breakthrough
BusinessWire June 4, 2007

For years, health advocates have promoted the importance of folic acid for prenatal healthcare. Now, the latest in prenatal research recognizes another crucial prenatal nutrient, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid, that many women lack in their everyday diet and supplements.

Footy crunch brain damage risk
AdelaideNow June 2, 2007

He said new science was showing brains were not fully developed until post-adolescence - meaning repeated brain injuries could leave lasting damage and teens and young adults should avoid high-impact sports. "When you sustain a frontal head injury you potentially damage the developing frontal brain and the memory and emotional parts of it during their critical phase of development," Professor Hickie said.

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