Why TV isn't always bad for your child's health

Why TV isn't always bad for your child's health

For keeping the young generation indoors and distracting them from homework, TV has come under a fair amount of criticism over the years, particularly for its alleged effects on children.

Critics have blamed the medium for a wide variety of evils, from stifling children's development to increasing violent tendencies and levels of depression, but new studies have sought to prove, once and for all, that not all of society's woes can be laid at the feet of the television.

Children's TV has come a long way since the clunky early shows, with authoritarian presenters akin to school teachers gradually giving way to younger and more lively shows with which today's children can better identify. Rather than harming a child's development, age-appropriate television can in fact be hugely beneficial to a young person's education, as well as providing a means for them to 'switch off' after a demanding day at school.

Just as adults can unwind from the stresses of the working day in front of escapist TV shows, so too can children enjoy the benefits of relaxing entertainment as a way for their busy minds to take a well-earned rest from all the new data they absorb every day at the vital early stages of development. Of course, the same dangers of spending too much time in front of the TV are as appropriate for kids as they are for their parents, and as diverse and colourful as children's TV may be, it should never be used in lieu of a 'babysitter.'

A more specific criticism in recent times has been the alleged effects of TV viewing on young children's test scores in class, an issue that was finally put to bed by research carried out at Oklahoma State University, which demonstrated that there was little discernible difference in scores between children from various age groups whether they watched TV or not. If a child is performing poorly at school, it's clear that the TV is not directly to blame, though any parents concerned about their children spending valuable time in front of TV shows when they could be doing homework are encouraged to limit their viewing hours accordingly.

One helpful advancement that has come along in recent years is recordable television, helping parents to schedule TV programming suitable for their children to watch once their other tasks have been completed. With services like Sky+ HD, it's easy to pause, store and play back TV on your own schedule, meaning children can unwind with age-appropriate entertainment after working hard during times of the day when their brains are most active.

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