Negative Effects of Television on Children Fifty-nine percent of children younger than two years regularly watch an average of 1.3 hours of television a day. Television is one of the most common media that is affecting children’s lives. Television impacts a child on how much television they watch, their age, personality, and if they watch television with or without their parents. The idea is that children get influenced in what their watching, so if they are watching a negative show; it is most likely that they will have an aggressive behaviour. However, many people including children and teens are influenced by television which has many negative effects. Television has negative effects on children because it promotes violence among children, has negative effects on healthy child development, and exposes children to sexual content. Hundreds of studies have shown that how violent shows on television effects children and teens. Kids may become aware to violence and more aggressive, when they watch programs that include violence. Because many violent acts are committed by “good kids”, so that’s why kids tend to follow violent shows. Even though, children are taught by their parents that it is not right to hit, television says that it is okay to hit, kick, and bite if you are the good guy. When a child tries to understand right or wrong, it leads to confusion. This leads to more violence because children do not know what is right or wrong for them, so that’s why their parents should be alert about what their child is watching. Also sometimes the bad characters in a cartoon program are not held responsible or punished, so children don’t know if they are correct. Also some of the young kids are frightened by scary and violent images. Sometimes telling the kids that the images aren’t real they would calm them, because they can’t yet figure out if its reality or fantasy. Some consequences that young kids might have for violence media are behaviour problems, nightmares, and difficulty sleeping. Not only does violence affect young kids but it also affects older kids. Older kids can be frightened by images that appear on the news, frictional shows, or reality base shows too. Providing children with the real information might help the fear. However, parents should not let children view programs that are frightening. Not only does television affect a kid’s fear level but also it affects kids developing stage. Television can affect learning and school performance if it cuts into the time of the kids needs for activities. With these activities it will help the kids with a healthy mental and physical development. Most of the child’s free time should be spent in activities such as playing, reading, exploring nature, learning about music, or playing sports. Many studies have shown that television is a significant factor of child obesity. According to the heart and stroke foundation of Canada one in four children, between seven and twelve, are obese. All the time spent in front of the television should be spent on more active activities. According to researchers, viewers feel a instant relaxation when they turn on the television, but when they turn the television off that feeling disappears. Usually when people play sports or other hobbies they feel energized, but after watching television they feel lots of energy. Television can also contribute to childhood obesity by advertising junk food to young viewers. Moreover, most food advertisements on children’s television shows are for fast food, candy and pre-sweetened cereals. Kids today are attacked with sexual messages and images on the media, television, magazines, advertisements, and the internet. Additional, television can be a powerful tool for educating young people but television can also have risks of sexual behaviour. According to a 2001 study from the Kaiser family foundation, titled Sex on TV, three out of four shows contain sexual reference. The shows that contain sexual content, only one in ten include safe sex, or the possible risks of responsible sex. In the shows that shows teens in sexual situations, only 17 percent contained messages that are about safe sex. The effects caused by television are more negative than positive and since children are being victims of negative television effects they are most likely to promote violence among children, have unhealthy mental and physical development, and sexual behaviour. Children who watch violent acts are most likely to show aggressive behaviour but also fear the world and think that something bad will happen to them. Television can be contributed to childhood obesity by advertising junk food. Teens and children who watch sexual content on television are most likely to participle in sexual intercourse or be involved in sexual activities earlier than other children. The purpose of television is to entertain, but it can also teach children and adults new things that are things that can be useful later in life. But with all the negative effects, will your child be able to succeed in their educational life.