Television can be educational and fun when it is used correctly and in moderation. However, watching it for too long or watching inappropriate programs can affect you child's health and behavior. Although violence in children's shows may appear to be innocent and fun, it is important to understand the true influences that television has on your child's behavior.
Statistics
According to KidsHealth, children under the age of 6 years watch an average of two hours of television a day. Between the ages of 8 and 18 years, the average child watches about four hours of television. By the time a child reaches 18 years of age, he will have witnessed about 200,000 violent acts on television, many of which are murders.
Appeal
Violence is often portrayed as appealing, especially in the mind of a child without a full understanding of reality. Violence is often used as an entertaining way for the main character of a television show to get what he wants, and it is sometimes made to look funny. Violence is often used by the protagonist of a television show, while the bad guys are not always held responsible for their actions.
Fear
KidsHealth states that children who view violent acts on television are more likely to fear that something bad will happen. This is especially true for a young child not yet in school, who does not yet understand the difference between reality and fantasy. Even cartoons may appear to be real in a young child's world. This can cause nightmares and irrational fear of something bad happening.
Aggression
Viewing violence on television can cause your child to become desensitized to violence and tolerate more of it, according to Psychiatric Times. He may get into fights or encourage his friends to fight other children. He is more likely to be overly aggressive, and viewing violence can make an already aggressive child act out even more.
Recommendations
To limit the violence your child is exposed to, set consistent guidelines and limits regarding his television watching habits. Healthy Children recommends allowing your child to watch no more than one to two hours of television each day. Be aware of which shows he is watching and make sure they are age-appropriate.
