Donnerstag, 7. Mai 2009

The Effects of Television on Children

There are several areas of concern which can be impacted negatively by excessive TV watching. I would like to take a closer look on the area of learning and education first, and then mention some other areas that can be influenced by television. To begin with, the medium is frequently blamed to interfere in the education of children. More time spent in front of a TV and watching programs is connected to poor academic performance by keeping children away from reading and doing their homework. Thus, intellectual ability, achievement and grades can be deleteriously affected by television. According to the Media Awareness Network, especially very young children should spend most of their free time with other activities than watching TV. Alexander emphasizes that the impact of television depends on age and gender. He points out that not only do children who excessively watch TV poorly in school but also perform children who spend a moderate amount of time watching television better than others.


Moreover, especially late-night TV viewing has been connected to abnormal sleep patterns in children. Violent programs evoke emotional stress in children which prevents them from getting to sleep or causes nightmares. Television tires children out so that they are exhausted at the next morning. This leads to daytime sleepiness so that children are less alert in school and cannot pay attention. Therefore, poorer sleep patterns caused by late-night TV watching also contribute to poorer school performance.


Furthermore, television enhances passivity. While sitting in front of a TV, children shy away from activities. Physical as well as mental workout comes off badly. Therefore, excessive TV watching promotes a lack of creativity (toys) and fantasy (books). Children do not have to think anymore since television provides them all the answers and therefore promotes passive learning. Additionally, TV viewing also provokes short attention spans. As a result, children have difficulty concentrating and working hard to solve a problem.


In my opinion, children’s TV is required to have a teaching assignment and to import valuable information to children. Unfortunately, according to Miller, most of the programs for children on television are non-educational. Only a few shows teach important skills such as reading, math, science or problem solving. However, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) emphasizes that “television can be a powerful teacher.” It can be an educational tool for children and teach specific skills - such as the American children’s TV series ‘Sesame Street’. This educational program, established in 1969, combines both entertainment and education. Minors can learn valuable lessons, for example about the alphabet, reading, simple arithmetic or international understanding. These abilities will contribute to their performance in school. The success of the show is proven by the audience of over 6 million pre-school children every week all over the world. Here is an example of how stars are integrated in ‘Sesame Street’: Feist on Sesame Street.


Educational television can be a beneficial teaching tool for disadvantaged groups, according to CPS. Moreover, such programs encourage children to go to the library or bookstores, to visit the zoo or museums as well as have a positive impact on the pro-social behaviour of children. According to Alexander, ‘prosocial behavior’ is generally defined as "good for persons and society". In the main, data suggests that excessive television can have an adverse effect on learning and the education of children.


Apart from learning and education, there are other areas which can be affected by excessive TV watching. According to Gavin, “TV characters often depict risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, and also reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes.” He also points out that “kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior but also fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.” Furthermore, he states that children who excessively watch TV “(…) are more likely to be overweight.” Therefore, the healthy child development can be deleteriously affected by too much TV viewing. Television might also undermine family life as well as affect social abilities such as friend- and relationships. Finally, also commercials can have a negative impact on children. Thus, in 1995 the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council (NZTBC) issued some guidelines concerning children and television advertising. These guidelines include policies and voluntary rules which regulate media communication with children and have been revised over the years.

Here you can find the 2008 edition of Advertising on Television. Getting it right for children as well as the 2001 edition. With this brochure, the NZTBC acknowledges that there is “the need for a high level of social responsibility in communicating to children.” Moreover, all bodies involved in television broadcasting - the media, advertisers and advertising agencies - take into the consideration the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Article 13, the Convention appreciates a child’s right to “freedom of seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kids, …through any media of the child’s choice.” On the one hand, the Convention recognizes each child’s uniqueness, individuality and personality, potential and competence. Furthermore, on the other hand, the agreement is conscious of violence, unsafe and risky practices, impropriety, bad taste and offensive language on television. The Convention provides children protection. All bodies involved in television broadcasting mentioned above consent to act according to the Advertising Codes of Practice through membership in the Advertising Standards Authority Inc (ASA). A Code for Advertising to Children is included. The brochure contains some supplemented, voluntary rules and principles to the Code concerning children’s TV and advertising. The guidelines represent the responsibilities of advertising broadcasters in programming for children and commercials.


Apart from all these negative effects of television on children, there might also be some advantages and even benefits. In moderation, television can be excellent entertainer as well as educator for children. According to CPS, the influence of television on children depends on several factors such as the amount of time spent in front of the TV, the child’s developmental level, the individual susceptibility as well as whether children watch television with their parents or rather alone.


Mittwoch, 29. April 2009

Reference list

Alexander, A. (n.d.). Children and Television. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/childrenand/childrenand.htm

Children and TV Violence. (2002). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/children_and_tv_violence

Gavin, M. L. (2008). How TV Affects Your Child. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html

Graham J. (2008). How Television Viewing Affects Children. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4100.htm

Miller, D. (1999). Television’s effects on kids: It can be harmful. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9908/20/kids.tv.effects/

Psychosocial Paediatrics Committee. (2009). Impact of media use on children and youth. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/PP/pp03-01.htm

Rebling, K. (2004). Violence and Children’s TV. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.goethe.de/wis/med/thm/en90242.htm

Television and Children. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/health_safety/television.shtml

Television’s Impact on Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/tv_impact_kids.cfm

The Good Things About Television. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/good_things_tv.cfm

Sonntag, 26. April 2009

Children's TV - Television for Children

When I think back to my early childhood in terms of watching TV in the evening with my parents, the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘Das Sandmännchen’ (The Little Sandman). This approximately 10 minutes long series is maybe the most popular daily bedtime TV program for children in Germany. On November 22, 1959 ‘Das Sandmännchen’ was introduced to East-German screens. The little puppet is a man with a beard and a pointed cap who sends the children to sleep. He introduces them to a little story and in the end wishes them a good night by “scattering” sand into their eyes. In the beginning, there were two versions of ‘Das Sandmännchen’, one in West Germany and one in East Germany. After the unification of Germany, only the East version has been continued and continues to be broadcasted until today. I am from East Germany, the former GDR (German Democratic Republic) and of course I say that “our” version is the more beautiful one. Here you can see the theme composed to the East German version, with a translation into English.

‘Das Sandmännchen’ is a REAL children’s TV program. But what makes a program to a children’s program? According to Wapedia, “Children's television series are television programmes designed for, and marketed to children, normally broadcast during the morning and afternoon. The purpose of the shows is mainly to entertain and sometimes to educate the young audience about basic life skills or ideals.”

Sonntag, 19. April 2009

Introduction to my socio-political topic

Every day in the morning when having breakfast, I am watching TV - on the one hand to improve my English, and on the other one to know what’s going on in the world. At some point, the news is no longer interesting and I decide to switch to another channel. The choice of channels in the Wellesley Student Apartments is limited to only seven, and therefore, there is not that much switching. This is why it happens that I eventually arrive at a children’s TV program. Very soon I will be totally disappointed by the shows - I really have a feeling that television for children gets worse and worse. This is true for Germany and New Zealand. The figures look so much strange, they have crazy shapes, they perform nearly impossible actions etc. Consequently, in my opinion, children cannot escape from their fate of getting dull and light-headed.


This is why the first socio-political topic that came to my mind has been "Children and Television in New Zealand". I believed children’s TV to make toddlers stupid. However, maybe I was wrong since this kind of television represents a “magical, wonderful and safe world”, according to The Playground. ABC Childrens TV. Hence, I did some research on children’s TV and finally decided to have a closer look on "The Effects of Television on Children".

Donnerstag, 9. April 2009

My delicious

http://delicious.com/mohnkuchen

About me

Hey =)
I'm Konny, a study abroad student from Germany and I will be in Auckland/NZ for one semester. I'm studying English and Business in my final year.