EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH TELEVISION

The Negative Effects of Too Much Television

The Negative Effects of Too Much Television

The damaging affects of television on children are disastrous. In today's generation, television has a great influence on children. The average child watches television 3 1/2 hours per day and most of this viewing is of violence or sexual acts. Children from the age's 6-11 spend more time watching television than they do in the classroom. The amount of violence that a child sees on television is about five violent acts per hour. The average American child will see 8,000 murders before finishing elementary school. This is one of the reasons why America has the highest crime rate in the world. Television affects a child's imagination, school performance, values and can even contribute to childhood obesity (Allerton 1995).

Children imitate the behaviors they see on television. Unfortunately, most of the programs watched by children have a negative impact and give the wrong impression of what really happens in everyday life. It also influences their development and their behaviors. Therefore, what they see on TV is what they are most likely to imitate. Cartoons show numerous acts of violence and the "good guys" do most of the fighting. For example, how do the Power Rangers get rid of the bad guys. Easy, they kick and punch until the bad guys leave. Children think that acting this way is okay (Bridgman 1993). They see their "Super Heroes" who are supposed to be the good guys do it on TV. They see the good guys doing this and think it is appropriate. Therefore, children act this way when playing with their friends, and at their schools. We need to protect our children, who are the future, from the violence on television.

In schools, teachers are noticing a difference between children ...