TV or no TV

Some would recommend to keep TV viewing time under control and have their child watch television for no more than one to two hours daily. Some would even permit their child to watch TV all day long. Some, on the other hand, would choose their child to be more creative by not watching any television at all! What is your say to this, as a parent?

Studies show that watching too much television, most especially at a young age (say two or three years old and under) can hamper brain development. We know that it is best to handle how much television your child watches by limiting the amount of time to a minimum, by not having a TV inside the child's bedroom and not watching TV during meal times. Television does not necessarily make a child creative as creativity and having a wider imagination can always be achieved without the help of television.

It is important to be aware of what your child sees on TV for fantasy can sometimes be confused with reality (and it's a fact that children usually mix both up). And it's easy – just be wary of violent animations and the use of weapons or anything that might not seem to fit in your child's age range. Instead, pick out the programs that are educational or designed to happily entertain children. It is also important to not leave your child unattended when watching television and also be careful when selecting the program they watch. Some might think that watching TV is the only way to keep your child entertained and "focused". But it isn't, for there are many other ways.

Always be ready to explain to your child what he/she sees on TV and try to encourage your little one to ask questions so they can relate what they see on the big screen in comparison to real life. But at the end of the day, we all have different views as parents, so TV might or might not be helpful to you and your child. You decide.

Helpful Resource: www.babycentre.com