The negative effects of television on children, according to science

Several studies show the negative influence of the idiot box.

Psychologists and educators have been warning parents for decades about the harmful effects of television on the little ones at home. For this reason, many researchers have invested their time in verifying what is true in this hypothesis.. 

Is it true that television harms children's development? And if so, how does television affect children's development?

The more television, the more problems at school

Television used in an appropriate manner and within certain limits can be positive, but we must not forget that it is a socializing agent and, therefore, it transmits values.. Therefore, it is necessary to control what children watch.

It is common for many parents, in order to have a moment to breathe, to sit their children in front of the small screen. It is necessary to be careful when doing this, because a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, in which the University Sainte Justine of Quebec and the University of Michigan participated, demonstrated that children who at 2, 3 and 4 years of age spent more hours in front of the television had greater problems at school and had adopted more harmful habits. and had adopted more harmful habits by the age of 10.

According to this study, excessive television exposure during childhood led to a 7% decrease in school engagement, a 6% percent decrease in math achievement, a 10% increase in peer victimization, a 13% decrease in time spent in physical activity on weekends, a 9% increase in soft drink consumption, and a 10% increase in consumption of unhealthy snack foods.

Childhood is an essential stage in brain development

The authors of the study emphasize that childhood is an essential stage for brain development. During this period, the brain and its neural circuits undergo an intense process of selective stabilization of synapses. The best way to create these connections is through play. In other words, children develop their intellect by experimenting with the physical world. by experimenting with the physical world.

Exposure to television can make us more anxious and violent.

Television has had an enormous impact on our culture. That is why Michel Desmurget, PhD in neuroscience and director of research at INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) conducted an investigation to find out the impact of "tele" on our lives.

His study concluded that TV exposure appears to make us more competitive, anxious and aggressive individuals.. On the other hand, this research also stated that excessive television viewing during childhood is related to the onset of attention disorders in the early stages of growth, and, as mentioned above, can lead to anxiety and delinquency during adolescence as well.

The relationship between health problems and television use

But there's more, because children between 2 and 10 years of age who spend more than two hours a day in front of the TV set are 30% more likely to suffer from high Blood pressure. are 30% more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.. It seems that the cause is to be found in the relationship between a sedentary lifestyle and the frequent use of television.

On the other hand, television seems to exert a strong influence on the image culture. A study conducted in the Republic of the Fiji Islands found that up to 69% of adolescents began watching television at the age of 18. 69% of adolescents began to control their weight after continuous exposure to the media.. Thus, we see that television also modulates the beliefs of minors.

Recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

As far as we can see, several scientific studies have demonstrated the negative effects of television use: aggressive behavior, anxiety, academic performance, negative self-image perception, etc. In spite of that, an appropriate use of television can be positive.. Therefore, so that the small screen does not become a negative aspect of children's development, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) proposes several tips for parents:

• Remove televisions from children's rooms.
• Only allow the use of television and other audiovisual media for a maximum of one to two hours a day. The content should be of quality and, therefore, what children and adolescents are watching should be monitored. Choose programs with informative and educational content.
• Children under the age of two should not watch television. Instead, parents should encourage them to engage in activities that stimulate brain development: talking, playing games, reading, etc.
• If possible, watch television with the children and use the programs to initiate discussions about family values, violence, sex, drugs, etc.
• Use videos and DVDs to record educational programs.
• Support educational programs at school about the media.
• Encourage children to pursue other activities such as reading, sports or hobbies. hobbies.