Take Control

It is not a secret that television has a great social impact on young people. Parents should know that television has both positive and negative influence on the children. They try to forbid watching TV, playing different computer games while the character of the children and their habits are being formed. Erica C. Roach is a woman who made her children read books and almost didn’t allow them to watch television until they aged 13. She thought that nowadays children are becoming more dependent on the mass media and different kinds of entertainment. They spend too much time in front of the computer which influence on not only their physical state but mental health too. I think parents should be aware of what their children do and watch, and then children will become mental healthy. Very often this is the mistake of the parents who allow their children to do what they want. I suppose that to make children do something is not a good way to bring up them. So, there are different peaceful ways to involve them into other leisure activities.

First of all, parents should watch TV with the child explaining what is good or bad and why. If they are watching something violent it could be useful to ask the child to think of other ways to solve problems without hurting someone or something, to talk about why nonviolence is important for them. Also, it is essential to ask the child to compare what is seen on TV with people, places and events they have seen or learned about in school. All these tricks will help the children to choose programs themselves according to .parents’ explanations.

Then, I think the best way to get a child away from TV is to find another arousing interest and fascinating pastime. I remember a conversation that several students of psychological department were discussing this problem. They said that the parents who make their children read books or to do something else instead of watching TV commit one big mistake. Their strict prohibitions may not only put a strain on the psych of the child but converse effect. There are many techniques parents can use. It will be useful to cook something together or to plant flowers in the garden, to play educational computer games or to visit the library, museums, shops or other points of interest. Such methods draw children’s attention away the television; moreover, they develop their imagination and different skills. Also, the relationship becomes warmer and closer, because parents try to spend as much time with their child as they can.

Anyway, the parents are responsible for mental health of their children that is why they must actively manage television viewing by young children, balancing it with a variety of daily activities to promote healthy development. But children are members of society and I think it is not allowed to prohibit them to be connected with the world.