TELEVISION AND YOUR CHILD

Television can be of help to children. It can spoil them too, writes

DR. DAVID PENIEL

Children who receive emotional support and cognitive stimulation from their parents are significantly less likely to become dumbs at school. But the more television the six-year-olds watch, the more likely they are to fail later. Why schedule cricket matches during exams?

EMOTIONAL ASPECT:

Cognitive stimulation and heavy amount of television watching Emotional support assessment included questions on whether the child ate meals with both parents, whether parents talked to the child while working and spanking. Cognitive stimulation assessment was based on information on outings, reading, playing and the parental role in teaching a child. The average number of hours that a child watched television was based on parent reports. Failing was determined by the characterisation of the child as a failure by his mother. The magnitude of the risk associated with television is clinically significant

A T V ADDICT:

Television can be positive too! However, confident television watching can prove a very positive experience for children. If the viewing habits are regulated and ifparents set a good example for their kids, there is much children can learn from this audio-visual medium. Second, television watching does not spoil children. Other factors, like lack of communication with parents, do.

T V ETIQUETTE

Combine dinner and television-watching. Participate in this activity as afamily. Post-dinner, discuss what you watched on television with yourchildren. This opens the channels of communication between you andyour children and also makes your children learn from what they had watched.

THE REAL AND THE UNREAL

Watching television can sometimes encourage children to read books! In olden times, we read fairy tales. Now, children watch them in theaudio-visual medium. If you buy the same story in a book form, they willdefinitely read it. Ask them to observe the credits at the end of the programme.This will help them learn about career options in television as well as spark off their curiosity as to how a television programme is made.

USEFUL CHANNELS

Watching certain types of programme must be encouraged among children. They help in personality development and widen their horizons. Inculcate the habit of watching the news. Discuss the news bulletin with your child to see how much s/he has understood. Encourage your child to watch sports channels. This will open his/ her mind to different games; how they are played, etc. Many children watch History and Discovery channels regularly. I know many children who make History scrapbooks and took up photography inspired by these channels.

EFFECTS OF TV:

Allot a specific number of hours in a week for television viewing. These rules must be applied to every member of the household to inculcate discipline. Negotiate with your child as to what s/he will watch as well as how many programmes s/he can watch in a week. Watching television before school or after dinner is a no-no -- it can be distracting as well as upset your child's sleep schedule.

VIEWING CHART:

Have a weekly programme chart which your child must fill in every week. Hold television parties once a week with programmes your child and his/ her friends enjoy. Avoid using the television as a bribe to get work done or to complete a task, like feeding the child faster. Encourage other modes of recreation besides television. For instance, getting the child involved in activities like cooking, shopping and developing hobbies.

THE REAL DANGER:

Children watch what is denied to them. If your child breaks the rules, it could be because you watch programmes, but deny them to your child without proper explanation. Thus, a bad example is set and the child does not take the rule seriously. If you are a TV addict, you have no right to complain . Besides you have to be TV disciplined and TV monitred to set a good example first at home.