Is television harmful to children?

In 1960th¸ television was only the equipment and its watching was an usual activity for most families. For example in Indonesia, children usually watch every day, full day and full time. Actually, children’s mind development is better. Even though television has good programs for people, it also may have other effects which disturb children’s development for three main reasons.

First, certain television programs have the negative effect on children’s development. We usually see aggressive children or sometimes they hurt themselves and their friends. It is caused by watching wrong television programs such as police and action movies that often show the war with guns, knives and other weapons. On the other hand, sometimes children become afraid and phobia when they play games together.

Second, television also makes children’s mind lazy. They do not have sense of reading ability. In television, there are not reading education. The more they watch, the slower their development.

Third, children do not do their homework because of watching television too much. They become tired and fall asleep directly. In the school, their teacher become angry because they do not do schoolwork. The more often they ignore their homework, the faster they fail in the class.

In conclusion, watching television program very much especially for children will disturb their mind and their progress in school. So, for parent should look at their children by choosing the good program for them and should turn off television in certain time in order to they more often study than watch television.