Psychologists and educators have been alerting parents to the harmful effects of television on children in the home for decades. That is why many researchers have invested their time in proving what is true of this hypothesis .

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

The more TV, the more trouble in school

Television used in an appropriate way and with certain limits can be positive, but we must not forget that is a socializing agent and, therefore, transmits values . Therefore, it is necessary to have control over 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. We must be careful when doing this, because a study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , and involving the University Sainte Justine of Quebec and the University of Michigan, showed that children who at the age of 2, 3 and 4 years spent more hours in front of the television had more problems in school and had adopted more harmful habits by the age of 10.

According to this study, excessive exposure to television during childhood resulted in a 7 percent decrease in school engagement, a 6 percent decrease in math achievement, a 10 percent increase in peer victimization, a 13 percent decrease in weekend physical activity time, a 9 percent increase in soda consumption, and a 10 percent increase in consumption of unhealthy snacks.

Childhood is an essential stage in the development of the brain

The study authors stress 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 .

Exposure to television can make us more anxious and violent

Television has had a huge impact on our culture. That’s why Michel Desmurget, doctor of neuroscience and director of research at INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) conducted research into the impact of “TV” on our lives.

His study concluded that exposure from television seems 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 appearance of attention disorders in the early stages of growth, and, as mentioned, it can cause anxiety and delinquency during adolescence as well.

The relationship between health problems and television use

But there is more, because children between 2 and 10 years old who spend more than two hours a day in front of the television are 30% more likely to suffer from high blood pressure . The cause seems to lie in the relationship between a sedentary lifestyle and frequent television use.

On the other hand, television seems to have a strong influence on image culture. A study conducted in the Republic of the Fiji Islands concluded that up to 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.

The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

As far as we can see, several scientific studies have shown the negative effects of the use of television: aggressive behavior, anxiety, academic performance, negative perception of one’s image, etc.In spite of this, 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 the televisions from the children’s rooms.
  • Only allow the use of television and other audiovisual media for a maximum of one to two hours per day. The content must be of quality and therefore what children and adolescents are watching must be controlled. Choose programmes with informative and educational content.
  • Children under the age of two shouldn’t watch TV. Instead, parents should encourage them to practice activities that stimulate brain development: talking, playing, reading, etc.
  • If possible. watch TV with 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 in the school about the media.
  • Encourage children to develop other activities such as reading, sports or hobbies.