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More Bad News About Television

© Karen Cabiac

It seems as though every day we open the newspaper or tune into the television only to find that there is one more article about something in our environment which may be detrimental to children. Is it getting to the point where we just want to shut it all down? Kids get sick and they get hurt- it's part of growing up, right? Is it really necessary for parents to be so paranoid about every little thing? If we are, we can drive ourselves crazy with blame that we didn't do something right and have caused our babies to be irreparably damaged for life.

For about the last year or so I have thought that if I could go back and change just one thing about my children's childhood, the one thing that I would have changed would be......that I would never have allowed television in my home. Who would ever have thought even 15 years ago that it would have become what it is today. A total intrusion into our lives. Now, a new research study shows that children may actually be "losing sleep" due to television. No, not because they are staying up late and watching shows (though that may be true also) but that they "fired up" by what they see on the T.V. The research was done by Dr. Judith Owens, a professor of pediatrics and Brown University. The article was taken from the associated press. To view the article: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?c=2...

Studies have linked television to obesity (due to lack of exercise and increased suggestion of food) and violence just to name a couple of things. I personally resent the fact that television has introduced my children to lower values and morals than I want them to uphold. Yes, I have regulated the shows the shows that my children watch-they knew which ones were approved of and which ones were not and I trusted them to follow the rules when I was not in the room. However, my children are becoming young adults and will soon have families of their own. How much more aware will they have to be of what is brought into their home?

Even if you disagree with this point of view, it is food for thought. Does your child have trouble falling asleep at night because his brain is still "acting out" the super heroes cartoon he just watched. Remember how easy it was to fall asleep after reading a couple of chapters (or for very young ones, a few pages)? It is very important to your child's development to have quiet time with you, the parent. This means a lot to his self-esteem. Reading to your children will increase their interest in reading. Reading will increase a child's vocabulary. You can stop when you want and pick the book up again later. Best of all, what better excuse to just relax for awhile and drink in those special moments with your little one. Your children will not be little for long, don't let all their memories be about television shows.