It is hard to avoid television if you are a kid. People in the house are usually tuned in to TV – siblings as well as parents. In some homes, the television is perpetually “on” even without anyone watching. It is common for parents and caregivers to use TV as a substitute babysitter. Also, many parents buy videos that they think can make their kids smart. But how does watching TV really affect children?
The bad news is, the majority of experts think that a TV/video-driven culture has bad effects on kids – and may prevent kids from being smart. They cite the following: * TV provides no educational benefits for a child under age 2. Worse, it steals time for activities that actually develop her brain, like interacting with other people and playing. A child learns a lot more efficiently from real interaction – with people and things, rather than things she sees on a video screen. * TV viewing numbs your kid’s mind as it prevents your child from exercising initiative, being intellectually challenged, thinking analytically, and using his imagination. * Too much watching TV as a young adult, especially when combined with not much exercise, may be linked to lower brain functioning even before one reaches middle age, according to a 2015 sturdy from the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. * Researchers from the University of Sydney report a link between total screen time and retinal artery width in children. Kids with lots of screen time were found to have narrow artery in their eyes, which may indicate heart risk. * A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Cardiology suggests that children aged 2 to 10 who watch TV for more than two hours a day is 30% more likely to be at risk for blood pressure compared to those who spend less time in front of TV. Lack of physical activity increased the risk even more – by 50%. The lead researcher Dr Augusto Cesar de Moraes, from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, warned that the condition can cause cardiovascular problems later in life. The findings are consistent with an earlier 2009 study. * TV watching also affects a child’s health and athletic ability. The more television a child watches, even in the first years of life, the more likely he is to be obese and less muscularly fit, according to a study by the University of Montreal. Even though your kid does not aspire to be a football star, his athletic abilities are important not only for physical health, but predicting how physically active he will be as an adult

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Some experts, however, believe that TV is not all that bad. They qualify though that viewing TV can be good if it is done in moderation, and if the program being watched is selected: * Some TV shows can educate, inform and inspire. It can be more effective than books or audiotapes in teaching your kid about processes like how a plant grows or how to bake a cake. * Studies show that kids who watch educational and non-violent children’s shows do better on reading and math tests than those who do not watch these programs. * Kids who watch informative and educational shows as preschoolers tend to watch more informative and educational shows when they get older. They use TV effectively as a complement to school learning. On the other hand, kids who watch more entertainment program watch fewer informative programs as they get older (Macbeth, 1996). * Preschoolers who viewed educational programs tend to have higher grades, are less aggressive and value their studies more when they reach high school, according to a long-term study (Anderson, et. al, 2001). * Scientists from the University of Siena found that children experience a soothing, painkilling effect by watching cartoons. So perhaps, a little entertainment TV can be a source of relief to kids who are stressed or are in pain. * Finally, think about what your child could be doing if he’s not watching TV. It would be great if the alternative is to read a book, engage in outdoor play, or having an intelligent talk with you. But if the alternative is simply for him to sit around and do nothing, whine about being bored, or start a fight or a conflict, then letting your child watch TV is a better option