* It's All About Moderation * - Final Draft

It’s All About Moderation

 

 

            Moderation is considered “the key” to many aspects of life, including the amount of time spent watching television.  After many decades of thoroughly researching the effects that television watching has on children, scientists have discovered that time spent in front of the tube can both positively and negatively influence a child’s mind and body.    Although watching too much television can lead to decreased attention span, violent behavior, and the ostracism of oneself; watching no television at all has just as many negative outcomes, if not more; including: overly-sheltered children, lower academic performance, and less confidence in interacting with peers.  Experts and children advocates have been torn for years between whether or not children should be allowed to watch TV.  Obviously neither extreme of television watching – too much TV or none at all – is healthy. When TV is viewed in moderation; however, it has been proven to stimulate a child’s education and creativity. 

            Television watching has become as routine in American households as washing the dishes or making the bed.  Considered a great form of entertainment in society today, “the TV is on ‘most’ of the time in 51% of households; and in 63% of households, the TV is ‘usually’ on during meals” (“Television”).  Outrageous statistics such as these validate the opinions of many Americans: that as a society, America does in fact, watch too much TV.  It is vital that a middle ground is found regarding the amount of time spent in front of the television; and it is detrimental that children are taught healthy TV habits.  Dennis Wharton of the National Association of Broadcasters believes, "there are many superb television programs for children, yet I would acknowledge that it is important for parents to supervise the media consumption habits of young children” (USA Today). 

            Because television has become such a necessity in the lives of Americans, it needs to be viewed in moderation in order to fulfill its greatest potential – not only entertaining children, but also educating them.  The TV can open up new worlds for kids; giving them a chance to travel the globe, explore different cultures, and gain exposure to the diverse areas and types of wildlife on this planet.  Monitoring the amount of time a child spends watching TV, as well as the shows that he or she is watching, is critical to a child’s development.  Van Evra from The Research Center for Families and Children declares: “moderate television watching with discretion in program viewing can be somewhat beneficial for school age children” (Graham).   It has been proven that children who watch a moderate amount of television perform better academically than those children who excessively watch television or those who do not watch television at all (Vandewater et al.).  According to Karen Jaffe from the Family Education Network, some contemporary shows such as “Blue’s Clues,” “Bear in the Big Blue House,” “Big Bag,” and “Dora the Explorer” can be educational and promote pro-social behavior.  TV watching does not have to just be a passive experience; but it can also be an active experience when children are presented with healthy, educational programs to watch. By repeating words or phrases heard during a show, and encouraging one’s child to sing and dance along with the characters, these shows become interactive. 

            Although educational TV shows can be beneficial and positive, too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a not-so-good thing. According to Dr. Dimitri Christakis, the head of a research study based on the effects of television watching on the developing minds of children: “Every hour per day that kids under 3 watched violent child-oriented entertainment their risk doubled for attention problems five years later, the study found. Even non-violent kids' shows like Rugrats and The Flintstones carried a still substantial risk for attention problems, though slightly lower” (USA Today). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two years of age should not watch any television; and that older children should only be allowed limited time in front of the TV (“Children and Media”). Although television may seem like an inevitable part of young children’s lives today, parents are still capable of minimizing their child’s exposure to it. 

            Along with television time limitations, children also need certain restrictions on which television programs are appropriate to watch.  Unfortunately, not all TV shows are educational or exude positive messages, so plopping a child down in front of a TV set with full reign of the remote control will most likely end poorly.  Negative and aggressive behavior is the most common result of  “free-reign” over the television set because of all of the violent shows that are currently being aired.  Due to the abundance of television shows that contain violent or negative messages, the government has actually implemented a rating system for television programming in order to promote healthy TV watching.  This system is aimed to help guide parents and assist them in establishing rules and guidelines for their child’s TV watching.  Television shows with the TV-Y rating are suitable for all children, while shows with the TV-7 rating contain mild fantasy violence or comedic violence that may scare younger kids, so are best recommended for children over the age of seven (Singer).  Although the parental rating system is very effective, not all shows have ratings, so parents need to be familiar with the television programs that their child is watching in order to protect what their children are being exposed to. 

            Not only is screening what children watch on TV very important, but setting limits on how much television is appropriate is also key to TV in moderation.  According to Dorothy Singer with the American Psychological Association, “It is imperative that children realize that watching television or videos is a treat, not a right”.  For the majority of children today, TV watching has become a habit that is hard to break.  American children spend 22 – 28 hours per week viewing television – that’s three to four hours a day! (Huston et al.).  The amount of time spent in front of television sets today is absurd and needs to be significantly decreased.  Eliminating television all together is unreasonable and practically impossible in America today, but there are other, healthier solutions to the television issue.  Some tips that the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests to help develop positive TV viewing habits in children include: setting time limits, planning what programs to watch, setting good examples as an adult television viewer, and expressing personal opinions about what occurs on TV.  Limiting a child’s television time is key to developing healthy TV habits.  Instead of allowing children unlimited time in front of the TV each day, limit television watching to one to two hours per day (Steyer).  It is also a good idea to only permit television watching after homework and chores have been completed.  This will emphasize that TV is a privilege that must be gained as opposed to a habitual pastime.  By planning what to watch and expressing personal views on television programs, adults can have a positive influence on the types of shows their children watch.  

            When children have no rules or limitations on their TV watching, they are left with full reign over the television, watching whatever they want to, for however long they want to.  When this is the case, there will only be one outcome – negative behavior.  Research has indicated that the typical American child will be exposed to 12,000 violent acts on television per year! (Graham).  It has also been proven that children are imitators, and those who watch violent shows are more likely to display aggressive behavior.  Even in certain children’s programs violence not only occurs, but it is viewed as a positive solution to a problem.   While parents are busy teaching their child that violence is wrong, many television shows are encouraging children to emulate the “good guys,” and perform violent acts on the “bad guys”; making violence seem like a positive response to a situation.  Violence is never a positive solution, and children need to fully understand that.  Even shows such as Power Rangers, Scooby-Doo, and The Lion King are considered to exude violence because they involve fighting, hitting people, or threats and cruelty that are central to the plot or main character (USA Today).  Although these television shows do not seem like they could be harmful or have a negative influence on a child, it has been proven that these shows not only send flawed messages, but may also hamper a child’s ability to focus their attention. Dr. Dimitri Christakis believes that even with basic cartoons, children are presented with the wrong message: "if someone gets bonked on the head with a rolling pin, it just makes a funny sound and someone gets dizzy for a minute and then everything is back to normal” (USA Today).  Typical cartoon incidences, such as the one previously mentioned, do not necessarily seem harmful but reiterate the fact that parents need to watch television with their child and discuss what may be wrongly presented in a certain television program.

            If children have no restrictions or parental guidance on what type of television programs they are allowed to watch, they will be exposed to more and more violence and negative behavior.  The frequent recurrence of cruelty on television will cause children to loose their ability to differentiate between right and wrong, thus increasing the amount of aggressive and violent acts committed – by children – and aimed at other children (Valkenburg).  Dr. David Walsh, the president of the National Institute on Media

and the Family, recommends that families set up a television schedule to display which programs are OK to watch, and when they are allowed to be watched.  The schedule does not have to just be a means of rule enforcement and television filtering, but it can also encourage family TV time and promote family togetherness.  It is very important for parents to watch television with their child and answer any question that he or she may have regarding something that they see on TV.  Instead of completely avoiding controversial topics, parents need to discuss these topics with their child.  By explaining confusing situations and addressing difficult issues, children are able to take away positive messages from a not-so-positive TV program.

            Television can be considered a wonderful and positive contribution to the world; yet it can also be thought of as a brainwashing device that will ultimately lead to the downfall of society.  Both of these opinions are extreme descriptions regarding the invention of the television, and can be argued either way.  Similarly, in regards to television viewing, extreme and contrasting beliefs are disputed about how much TV is appropriate for children to watch.  Because life is all about moderation, it is typically necessary to find balance, or a common ground, between two extremes in a situation.    The time spent watching TV is no exception; and there is only one positive and healthy solution to the over-abundance of television that is being watched by children today.  It is not reasonable or beneficial to completely cut television out of a child’s life, but it is important for parents and American citizens to stress the importance of the “television medium”.  Television in moderation encourages television time limits and program restrictions.  According to The American Behavioral Scientist Journal, children need to be allowed access to the television – but with certain guidelines and parental consent. According to the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child in the United States spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV! (Vandewater et al.).  Theses statistics can be greatly improved with the enforcement of rules for television watching, along with the development and implication of television schedules. Finding the middle ground is “key” with TV viewing, and it is crucial that parents stay “tuned in” to their children’s television watching habits, and overly-stress the importance of healthy TV watching. 

 

 

 

Works Cited

  

“Children and Media.” PBS Parents. 2002. PBS. April 10, 2008 .

 

Gavin, Dr. Mary L.. How TV Affects Your Child. KidsHealth, 6 April 2008.             .

 

Graham, Judith. Family Issues Facts. U of Maine Cooperative Extension. 5 April 2008.

 

 Huston, Aletha, John C. Wright, Janet Marquis, Samuel B. Green. “How Young Children Spend their Time: Television and Other Activities.” Developmental Psychology 35.4 (1999): 912 – 925. EBSCO Host. Jul. 1999 .

 

“Parenting Corner: Q &A.” American Academy of Pediatrics. April 10, 2008. .

 

Steyer, James P. The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media’s Effect on Our Children. New York: Atria Books, 2002. 

 

 

 

Singer, Dorothy G.  “A Time to Reexamine the Role of Television in our Lives”. American Psychologist 38.7 (1983): 815 – 816. EBSCO Host. Jul. 1983 .

 

Tanner, Lindsey. “Some Shows Linked to Kids’ Attention Problems.”  USA Today. Jan. 2008. .

 

Television. U. of Michigan Health System. 5 April 2008.

            <>.

 

Valkenburg, Patti M. Children’s Responses to the Screen. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 2004. 

 

Vandewater, Elizabeth A., Seoung-Eun Park, Xuan Huang, Ellen Wartella. “No- You Can’t Watch That: Parental Rules and Young Children’s Media Use”. American Behavioral Scientist. 48.5 (2005): 608 – 623. EBSCO Host. Jan. 2005 .

It's All About Moderation

It’s All About Moderation

            Moderation is considered “the key” to many aspects of life, including the amount of time spent watching television.  After many decades of thoroughly researching the affects that television watching has on children, scientists have discovered that time spent in front of the tube can have both positive and negative influence on a child’s mind and body.    Although watching too much television can lead to obesity, violent behavior, and ostracizing oneself; watching no television at all can also have negative outcomes such as overly-sheltered children, lower academic performance, and less confidence in interacting with peers.  Experts and children advocates have been torn for years between whether or not children should be allowed to watch TV.  Obviously either extreme of television watching – too much TV or none at all – is not healthy. When TV is viewed in moderation; however, it has been proven to stimulate a child’s education and creativity. 

            Television has become a staple in today’s society, and there is no way to avoid it.  Television watching has become as routine in American households as washing the dishes or making the bed.  Considered a great form of entertainment, “the TV is on ‘most’ of the time in 51% of households; and in 63% of households, the TV is ‘usually’ on during meals.”(UMHS).  Outrageous statistics such as these validate the opinions of many Americans: that as a society, America does in fact, watch too much TV.  It is vital that a middle ground is found regarding the amount of time spent in front of the television, and it is detrimental that children are taught healthy TV habits.

            Because television has become such a necessity in the lives of Americans, it needs to be viewed in moderation in order to fulfill its greatest potential – not only entertaining children, but also educating them.  The TV can open up new worlds for kids; giving them a chance to travel the globe, explore different cultures, and gain exposure to the diverse areas and types of wildlife on this planet.  Monitoring the amount of time a child spends watching TV, as well as the shows that he or she is watching, is critical to a child’s development.  Van Evra from The Research Center for Families and Children declares: “moderate television watching with discretion in program viewing can be somewhat beneficial for school age children”(Graham).   It has been proven that children who watched a moderate amount of television performed better academically than those children who excessively watched television or those who did not watch television at all.  According to Karen Jaffe from the Family Education Network, some contemporary shows such as “Blue’s Clues,” “Bear in the Big Blue House,” “Big Bag,” and “Dora the Explorer” can be educational and promote pro-social behavior.  Educational television, however, is not the only type of TV that is being watched by children these days; and that is where the problems arise.

            Allowing children to watch television does have its advantages; but plopping a child down in front of a TV set with full reign of the remote control will in no way generate positive behavior.  Children must have regulations as to what television shows they are allowed to watch.  The government is actually promoting healthy TV watching by having implemented a rating system for television programming.  This system is aimed to help guide parents and assist them in establishing rules and guidelines for their child’s TV watching.  Television shows with the TV-Y rating are suitable for all children, while shows with the TV-7 rating contain mild fantasy violence or comedic violence that may scare younger kids, so are best recommended for children over the age of seven.  Although the parental rating system is very effective, not all shows have ratings, so parents need to be familiar with the television programs that their child is watching in order to protect what their children are being exposed to. 

            When children have full reign over the television, watching whatever they want to, for however long they want to, there will only be one outcome – negative behavior.  Research has indicated that the typical American child will be exposed to 12,000 violent acts of television per year (Graham)!  It has also been proven that children are imitators, and those who watch violent shows are more likely to display aggressive behavior.  Even in certain children’s programs violence not only occurs, but it is viewed as a positive solution to a problem.   While parents are busy teaching their child that violence is wrong, many television shows are encouraging children to emulate the “good guys,” and perform violent acts on the “bad guys”, making violence seem like a positive response to a situation.  Violence is never a positive solution, and children need to fully understand that.  If children have no restrictions on what type of television programs they are allowed to watch, they will be exposed to more and more violence, which will only lead to an increase of aggressive and violent acts towards others without knowing the difference between right and wrong. 

            Because of the overwhelming amount of violence and other risky behaviors shown on TV, it is imperative that parents establish family rules for television watching.  Dr. David Walsh, the president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, recommends that families set up a television schedule to display which programs are OK to watch and when they are allowed to be watched.  The schedule does not have to just be a means of rule enforcement; but it can also encourage family TV time and promote family togetherness.  It is very important for parents to watch television with their child and answer any question that he or she may have regarding something that they see on TV.  Instead of completely avoiding controversial topics, parents need to discuss these topics with their child.  By explaining confusing situations and addressing difficult issues, children are able to take away positive messages from a not-so-positive TV program.

            Television can be considered a wonderful and positive contribution to the world; or it can be thought of as a brainwashing device that will ultimately lead to the downfall of society.  Both of these descriptions are extreme opinions regarding the invention of the television, and can be argued either way.  Similarly, in regards to television viewing, extreme and contrasting beliefs are argued about how much TV is appropriate for children to watch.  Neither extreme in both of these previous situations is absolutely correct.  Life is all about moderation, and the amount of time spent watching TV is no exception.  Educational television programs are exciting and interactive – encouraging    children to learn and ask questions.  Television can also bring up controversial issues that are important for parents and children to discuss together, so watching TV as a family promotes bonding and deep discussions.  Too much time spent in front of the TV, on the other hand, can lead to increased aggression and violent behavior because these types of conduct begin to seem acceptable when seen repeatedly.  Too much television can also lead to anti-social behavior; but on the contrary, it has been proven that children who watch shows with positive messages are more likely to interact with other children than those children who watch too much TV or no TV at all (Gavin).  The issue of television watching will always be prevalent and unresolved because TV can have both a positive and negative affect on one’s mind and body.  Finding the middle ground is “key” with TV viewing, and it is crucial that this middle ground is enforced in all American households. 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Gavin, Dr. Mary L.. How TV Affects Your Child. KidsHealth, 6 April 2008.             .

 

Graham, Judith. Family Issues Facts. U of Maine Cooperative Extension. 5 April 2008.

            <>.  

 

Television. U. of Michigan Health System. 5 April 2008

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* MEDIATED BRIEF *

Mediated Brief—Television in moderation

Children should be allowed to watch television in moderation, and under parental guidance. There has been three decades of research on children and television. Experts and children advocates are torn between whether or not to allow children to watch television. There is a difference between having full reign over the television and watching television with guidelines in mind. Television is not necessarily a negative form of entertainment, but when misused, it can have negative effect on a developing mind. There is a middle ground that must be found involving children and their television watching habits. As a society, with such an emphasis on entertainment, it would be completely impractical to remove television from one’s life. Television has become a staple in today’s world; there is absolutely no way to avoid it. So, we must find its positive aspects and utilize them to our advantage.

"Hundreds of scientific studies conducted since the 1950s have shown a cause and effect between exposure to violence through the media and violent behavior," says David Walsh, Ph.D., president of National Institute on Media and the Family and a nationally known expert on violence and the media. Dr. Walsh and many other experts agree that parents should establish family rules for television viewing. Here are some recommendations: Watch TV with your kids, discuss with them what you just watched, question what you see on TV, talk back to the TV if necessary to clarify an issue, and watch selected shows, not just whatever is on. Talk to your children about what they learned and what they got out of a show. If they see violent images or negative stereotypes, talk to them about it. Explain that these things are bad -- and why -- and talk about what real violence does to people. "Watching television with your children is a time you can share with them and it enables you to see exactly what they're learning," says Marjorie J. Hogan, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. When possible, limit viewing to educational shows, news (for children of appropriate age) and occasional entertainment, not constant escapism. Children need to learn that entertainment comes not from a screen but from self-generated activities.

Television in moderation can be a good thing for a child. These days television programs teach children an array of things from the alphabet, to wildlife and current events. Television not only provides a source of good education, but can be a healthy form of entertainment, if used in moderation. Monitoring your child’s television intake is critical. Children need a strong balance between playing with their friends, exercising, reading, and watching quality programming.

Allowing your child to watch television has its advantages, but plopping a child in front of the screen and giving them full reign is not going to endorse positive behavior. Monitor what your child watches with parental ratings. TV-Y ratings are suitable for all children, TV-7 for children 7 and older; these shows contain mild fantasy violence or comedic violence that may scare younger kids. Make sure you’re familiar with the programs you are allowing your child to consume.

Teach your child good habits. Limit the number of television hours to less than 2 hours of quality programming.  Stock the room that you keep your television with other forms of entertainment, such as books, board games, and puzzles that way it will not become a habit to walk in a specific room and turn on the television. Keep televisions out of your child’s bedroom. Turn your television off during meals and during homework time. Television should be a privilege that your child should earn, not a right your child has. Make sure your child does homework and all chores before watching television. As a parent, set a good example by limiting your television time and what you watch during your that time.

Have a family television schedule, certain programs that you watch together as a family, each week, in order to promote family bonding. After your scheduled program is over, turn the television off, instead of channel surfer until you find something that catches you or your child’s eye. Talk to your child about what your child sees on television. Make sure to share your values together. Talk with other adults about what they watch with their children. Offer fun alternatives to television such as: board games, read together, crafts, play outside—make it quality time. .

Teach your child to be a savvy consumer by talking about what your child thinks while watching the programs together, engage children, ask their opinion and let them know it’s their choice but make sure they understand their choices. Explain that commercials and ads are designed to make children want things that they don’t need o even want. Help children understand that those ads are made to make children think that those products will make them happy; talking to kids about reality will help put things into perspective. 

NO MORE TV *REVISED*

Children should not be allowed to watch television.  Television programs have a negative influence in the lives of children and promote no educational benefits.  Television actually takes away from education; encouraging children to stay inside watching pointless TV shows instead of working on schoolwork or even interacting with other kids. Television watching has become a very unhealthy pastime of children today.  The amount of children who choose to be active after school is decreasing, while the amount of children who decide to watch TV after school is increasing; ultimately causing obesity and attention disorders.  Another damaging affect that television has on the children of today’s world is that TV is negatively shaping the minds of the youth and lowering their moral standards by promoting risky behaviors.   

            Healthy after school activities are almost unheard of in society today.  Instead of children spending their free time reading, and broadening their minds as well as their vocabulary, they are mindlessly watching television. According to the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child in the United States spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV!  Children become engrossed in television shows after school and refuse to do their homework or study.  Considering that on average, children spend about four hours watching TV a day, it is obvious that television has become quite the distraction from schoolwork.  The excessive amount of television being watched by children is leading to an increase in Attention Deficit Disorder in the youth population.  According to studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, between three and five percent of children in the United States are currently being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and each hour spent in front of the TV increases a child’s chance of developing this disorder by 10%.  Because TV can cause the developing minds of children to experience unnatural levels of stimulation, many kids continue to expect this same rate of stimulation in real life and are not able to deal with the slower pace of school and homework. 

            No matter if the television show that a child is “hooked-on” is educational or completely un-educational, it is negatively affecting the child.  Television watching encourages children to be inactive and also promotes mindless eating.  Commercials only add to this problem by advertising unhealthy snacks.  It has been proven that an individual is likely to consume more food if they are eating while watching a television show or movie than if they are just eating an afternoon snack.  When an individual is focused on a television show or a movie, he or she is not thinking about what is entering their mouth or how much food they are consuming.  This mindless eating leads children to continue eating until they run out of food; ultimately resulting in gaining weight.  Obesity has become a serious problem in society today, and television is only increasing the numbers in the obese population.  Studies have shown that decreasing the amount of TV viewed by children led to less weight gain and lower Body Mass Indexes.  Television watching discourages children to participate in healthy activities such as exercising or playing with friends.  Children need to release their energy after a long day at school; so being outside with friends will keep kids healthy by releasing stress and encouraging social interaction.

            On many occasions, children watch television alone, which holds them back from making friends and interacting with their peers.  Children not only disregard their friends because of television, but they also tend to ignore their family members.  Families are no longer spending quality time together like they did before the invention of the television.  This is because in society today, children do not need their families to entertain them; they have TV to do that.  Even if families do watch television together, they are not interacting with each other or talking about important matters; they are only together in the same room. 

            Many shows on television today are very racy and inappropriate for children to watch.  Even family sitcoms such as Friends and Seinfeld promote sexual activity and openly discuss sexual promiscuity.  The majority of television shows do not have a positive message or support healthy hobbies.  Smoking, alcohol consumption, cursing, sex, and violence are almost always expected to appear in television shows and are usually depicted as being fun, cool, and exciting.  Children should not be introduced to these severe topics through television in which they are handled lightly.  Instead, parents should be informing their child about sex, drugs, alcohol, and other serious matters that are so common in today’s society. 

            The reoccurrence of sex, violence, and drug and alcohol use in everyday television begins to influence children into believing that these are not major problems or big deals.  When a child continually watches violent television, they are more likely to act violently and aggressively towards others because they do not think that there is anything wrong with the way in which they are acting.  According to research by the AAP, children ages 2 to 7 are particularly frightened by scary-looking images that they see on TV, leaving them vulnerable and traumatized. Studies also claim that the average American child will witness 200,000 violent actions on television by the age of 18.  Not only does TV violence beg for imitation, so does repeated sexual content.  When children frequently see sex on television, their morals become altered and sex is no longer and intimate bond between two people, but simply an activity that follows a date. 

            Because children are young, their minds are easily molded by what they observe and watch on television.  When they repeatedly see sexual activity, cursing, violent acts of crime taking place, and drug use, these things begin to be taken lightly when they should not be.  Research has also proven that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes.  Instead of television positively affecting children by promoting exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, television is negatively affecting children and shaping their minds and should not be watched.   Studies have also shown that children who consistently spend more than four hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.  Children need to become more active and should spend their free time interacting with other children or running around outside instead of isolating themselves inside, in front of a television screen.   Not only does spending time outside with friends promote physical activity, but it also releases stress and betters an individual’s social skills.  If children refrain from watching television, out world will become a more intelligent place, and our population will become less obese; thus creating a healthier and happier planet. 

            

NO MORE TV

Children should not be allowed to watch television.  Television programs have a negative influence in the lives of children and promote no educational benefits.  Television actually takes away from education; encouraging children to stay inside and watch pointless television shows without positive messages.  Children can become engrossed in a television show and refuse to do their homework or study.  Television watching has also become a very unhealthy pastime of children today, decreasing the amount of children who choose to be active after school.  Television is also negatively shaping the minds of the youth and lowering moral standards. 

            Instead of children spending their free time reading and broadening their minds as well as their vocabulary, they are mindlessly watching television.  As if watching un-educational programs is not bad enough, television watching also promotes mindless eating.  It has been proven that an individual is likely to consume more food if they are eating while watching a television show or movie than if they are just having an afternoon snack.  When an individual is focused on a television show or movie, he or she is not thinking about what is entering their mouth or how much food they are consuming.  This mindless eating leads children to continue eating until they run out of food; ultimately resulting in gaining weight.  

            Obesity has become a serious problem in society today, and television is only increasing the numbers in the obese population.  Television watching encourages children to stay inside, thus reducing the amount of children who are participating in healthy activities such as exercising and playing with friends.  Children need to release their energy after a long day at school; so being outside with friends will keep kids healthy by releasing stress and encouraging social interaction.  On many occasions, children watch television alone, which holds them back from making friends and interacting with their peers.    

            Children not only disregard their friends because of television, but they also tend to ignore their families.  Families are no longer spending quality time together like they did before the invention of the television.  This is because in society today, children do not need their families to entertain them; they have TV to do that.  Even if families do watch television together, they are not interacting with each other or talking about important matters; they are only together in the same room. 

            Many shows on television today are very racy and inappropriate for children to watch.  Even family sitcoms such as Friends and Seinfeld promote sexual activity and openly discuss sexual promiscuity.  The majority of television shows do not have a positive message or support healthy hobbies.  Smoking, alcohol consumption, cursing, sex, and violence are almost always expected to appear in television shows.  Children should not be introduced to these severe topics through television in which they are lightly handled.  Instead, parents should be informing their child about sex, drugs, alcohol, and other serious matters that are so common in today’s society. 

            The reoccurrence of sex, violence, and drug and alcohol use in everyday television begins to influence children into believing that these are not major problems or big deals.  When a child continually watches violent television, they are more likely to act violently and aggressively towards others because they do not think that there is anything wrong with the way in which they are acting.  Also, when children repeatedly see sex on television, their morals become altered and sex is no longer and intimate bond between two people, but an activity following a date. 

            Because children are young, their minds are easily molded by what they observe and watch on television.  When they repeatedly see sexual activity, cursing, violent acts of crime taking place, and drug use, these things begin to be taken lightly when they should not be.  Instead of television positively affecting children by promoting exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, television is negatively affecting children and shaping their minds and should not be watched.   Children need to spend their free time interacting with other children and running around outside instead of isolating themselves inside, in front of a television screen.   Not only does spending time outside with friends promote physical activity, but it also releases stress and betters an individual’s social skills.  If children refrain from watching television, out world will become a more intelligent place, and our population will become less obese; thus creating a healthier and happier planet.