How much of TV is too much for children?
Advanced technology has made it difficult for parents to know what their children are watching on Television and the Internet. However, experts say parents must keep monitoring what their children look at to prevent them from dangers that might emerge as a result of driving their imagination.
A recent report cited the case of a Saudi boy in Jazan who, influenced by a Turkish soap opera, tried to imitate the serial's hero atbodyting suicide. The boy failed twice in his atbodyt, but the third time, he almost succeeded and was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Buthina Khoja, a psychologist at a private hospital in Jeddah, stressed that the first two years of life constituted a critical time for brain development. Although TV encourages the child to explore, play and interact, it may also create a dangerous atmosphere around the child.
"As kids get older, too much time in front of the screen can interfere with activities such as reading, homework, playing with friends and spending time with family. It also affects children when they get too much involved in the scenario they watch and start imitating," she said.
Khoja related that in the past, TV was considered a good educator, especially for preschoolers. "It can help small children in learning the alphabet, scholars can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. There is no doubt that TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer."
Despite these advantages, too much television can be detrimental, especially with the absence of parent observation, she said.
According to Khoja, kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior and they may fantasize that something bad might happen to them in this scary world.
TV characters often depict questionable behavior and present racial stereotypes. This can influence kids' mindset and behavior, the psychologist said.
Although some parents advise their children to spend more hours per week watching educational programs, others assert that parents should better control the use of TV and the Internet and teach kids that these media are for occasional entertainment, said Sara Al-Ghamdi, an education expert.
She added, "That's why it is so important for parents to monitor the content of TV programs and set viewing limits. They should ensure that their kids do not spend too much time parked in front of the TV to watch magic, action movies and horror scenes."
She confirmed that in the preschool age, most children, while playing, imagine themselves to be the heroes they watch on TV.
"In the preschool age, most children are not yet able to grasp the world around them. As a result, they often make up their own imaginary explanations for how things work."
The preschool years are called "the magic years," Al-Ghamdi said. "During these years, kids combine what they see on TV with their own imagination to come up with fantastical ideas about why and how things happen.
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