TV and Your Child

How many hours does your child spend in front of the TV everyday? Many of us are convinced that our kids (and we ourselves!) cannot live without TV. TV keeps our children entertained and no doubt there are many ood pro rammes on TV that can really be beneficial. !ut lets take a look at all the thin s that your child is missing when watchin TV.

Television prevents a child from doing the following: ". #cannin $ siftin and analy%in information and then applyin it to everyday situations. &. 'racticin motor skills$ be they ross or fine. (. 'racticin co)ordination of eyes and hands *. +sin more than two senses at a time to e,pand the appreciation of his environment -. .skin /uestions and receivin helpful educational answers. 0. 1,plorin and usin his curiosity. 2. 1,ercisin initiative or motivation. 3. !ein challen ed 4. Thinkin analytically "5. +sin his ima ination "". 'racticin communication skills. "&. 6mprovin verbal skills "(. 7ritin and readin . "*. !ein either creative or constructive "-. 6t does not promote the ability to concentrate for lon periods because of its flicker "0. 6t does not promote lo ical$ se/uential thinkin because the action shifts constantly backwards and forwards and laterally in time Most e,perts recommend not more than one hour of TV viewin on weekdays and two hours on weekends. What can you do to discourage excessive TV viewing? 8o not put a TV in your child?s room. #et a ma,imum time that your child can watch TV per day 9 week. Make a reements with your child on specific, accepta le programs, and specific time for viewing. 6nsist that your children complete their homewor! before watchin TV$ and do not keep the TV on while homework is bein done. "witch #$$ the TV at mealtimes. "et an example: There?s no ettin away from this! 6f your child sees you watchin TV whenever you are free$ you can hardly e,pect him to be different. 6ntroduce your child to alternate activities.

Here are some activities that children usually en:oy that do ;<T involve TV= <utdoor play Music >eadin !oard ames ?ard ames !uildin blocks Hobbies and crafts Household chores 'retend play ? dressin up in adults? clothes 7alks #ports ?onversation with friends ???and occasionally doin ?nothin ?

Make a list of thin s that your child en:oys doin and ne,t time you ask them to switch off the TV$ su est one of these activities. 6t may take a while to wean them off the TV$ but once they really be in to en:oy the alternatives$ it will be much easier. .nd M+?H better for them in the lon run! More ideas on fun activities for children