Children and Media

I believe media is not a very good influence for small children. Media gives children ideas and behaviors that aren't always appropriate. Also parents don't always have a say in what their children learn through media. I think there are appropriate television shows for children but there are a lot more inappropriate televisions shows. TV has become a pacifier for children in many ways. Parents us TV to distract them and keep them quite. This is very wrong. Children need to be active and play. Playing helps children learn in more ways the TV ever could. Internet and video games are the same way. Children have no need to use the computer, let alone the internet. Children will have plenty of opportunity to use computers and the internet when they are older. Video games are also unnecessary for children. Video games can be violent, rude or unsuitable for children. Children can become obsessed with video games and have trouble with self control.

I think that it’s important for children to actively play and exercise instead of sitting in front of a screen all day. When I was young I hardly ever watched TV. My mom would let us watch Disney movies on the weekend. Even during middle school the only way I got to watch TV was if I had all my homework done and I got 2 hours a day to watch TV. I think that parents hold the key to the media problem. Parents need to regulate the time children spend in front of a screen. Personally, I feel children should only watch 1-2 hours of TV (or video game) a night. That is plenty of time for children.