5 ways to help children overcome their TV addiction.
Don't install a TV in a child's room, and don't turn on the TV just to break the silence in the house... this is the advice given by VerywellFamily.
Children who watch too much television may experience several problems such as obesity, cardiovascular issues, sleep disturbances, and decreased academic performance. If children watch more than three hours of television a day, parents need to take measures to reduce the frequency using the following methods:
1. Do not install a television in a child's bedroom.
Parents should avoid installing televisions in their children's bedrooms. Some studies show that children with televisions in their bedrooms tend to perform worse academically than others. Additionally, parents should establish rules such as: no watching television during meals or homework time; if necessary, create a schedule prohibiting television during specific times of the day. To ensure children follow these rules strictly, parents should set a good example by not watching television during those prohibited hours.
2. Don't just turn on the TV for the sake of it.
Many families have a habit of turning on the TV but not watching it, just leaving it on to create some background noise and prevent the house from being too quiet. This can be harmful to children, causing them to become engrossed in watching TV when their parents aren't paying attention.
Instead of turning on the TV, parents should turn on music, the radio, or any other audio medium that only provides sound, rather than images.
3. Let children decide how much time they spend watching TV.
Instead of just creating a TV schedule for the kids, parents should create a schedule for the whole family and let the children participate in choosing their favorite viewing times. This helps children feel more empowered. Parents should allow children to watch freely during their chosen times and avoid interrupting or asking them to stop for any reason.
For example, if children are allowed to watch cartoons between 2 and 3 pm, let them watch and don't force them to study or do chores during this time. Parents can wait until the TV time is over before asking them to do the chores.
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Children watching more than 3 hours a day can suffer many negative consequences. (Image)VerywellFamily |
4. Provide children with other forms of entertainment besides television.
If children are given the choice between cleaning their room, playing alone, or watching TV, they will naturally choose TV with its endless array of entertaining programs. However, if parents offer other enjoyable activities, especially those that strengthen family bonds such as reading together, cycling, or going to the park, children will have a different choice.
5. Make your child's TV time productive.
When parents allow children to watch television, they should do their best to turn it into productive family time, rather than a lazy afternoon lounging on the couch.
Parents should watch TV with their children to ensure the programs they are watching are age-appropriate. Additionally, this gives you topics to talk about with your children after the TV is off. For example, if the program was about animals, you can discuss and share more information about the animals you just saw with your child.
Additionally, during breaks between programs, parents can organize some games or physical activities with their children, such as doing some exercises to relax their bodies.
Although children will still watch TV, this strategy will yield some positive results and is a step in the right direction.