Television has become one of media that
people; even children use to gain entertainment. Television industry realizes
that children are attracted with television so they start to produce various
kinds of children television programs. With the development of children television
programs, they can also learn from it and apply the good things they found on
it for their real life. Consequently, they get more attracted to television and
watch it over times. This activity is good for children as long as it’s done in
the proper amount of time. It doesn’t rarely happen when children get
captivated by television and unconsciously spend too many hours watching it. In
other words, it can be harmful for children too. However, there are pros and
cons emerge facing this watching television issue for children; those who agree
state that it can improve children’s learning process and make them more aware
of other cultures and people and those who are disagree say that it can cause obesity
and ADHD.
The ones who are in the
pro side state that watching television for children helps them in the way of
their learning process and enrich their cultural background information. When
children watch television programs, they learn so many new things. Since their
brains are also still in the developmental stage, it will be easier for them to
absorb new things. They can learn new words, expressions and learn how to write
it if necessary. By watching television, they get both visual and audio media
that can really help them develop themselves. An example suits with this idea
is a girl who loves to watch Dora the Explorer can learn many new words is
English and learn the meaning too. Thus,
it is indeed that watching television can develop children’s skill in their
learning process. Furthermore, television can help children to get broader information
of different cultures all over the worlds. Television stations provide a lot of
good television program that can be enjoyed by children. For example, there is
a television program entitled Laptop si
Unyil. It is a really suitable television program for children. It contains
information from many different cultures spread all over the worlds. By
watching this kind of television programs, it is certain that children can
learn and observe different cultures, their behavior, their people, and
language and still many more. This kind of learning is important for children
to give them broad background knowledge.
However, there are also some cons opinions
regarding this issue, it can cause obesity and ADHD. Obesity is the most well
known health problem that may emerge as an effect of children’s habit in
watching television in excessive amount of time. A study in U.K proved that
from 9.000 children they observed, television is one of the main reasons why
most of them became obese. When children get hypnotized by their favorite
television program, they are more likely to stay at the exact position and
place for some time. At this rate, their muscles become passive and
consequently, it affects their metabolism. It’s also supported by both
children’s and adults’ habit to eat while watching television. They keep
getting energy intake into their body but they don’t even make any effort that
can release some energy to balance that. Their metabolism is already hampered
by their indolence, and it’s heaped again with food that their digestive system
has to digest. There’s also a mentality problem that arise for this television
issue; it’s called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. ADHD is a
behavioral disorder occurring primarily in children, including such symptoms as
poor concentration, hyperactivity and impulsivity. A study from the American
Academy of Pediatrics shows that watching videos as a toddler may lead to ADHD
in later life. In this case, we can relate videos to television because television
shows videos to viewers. By watching television in long period of time,
children get mesmerized and their brain stops bending neural paths which are so
crucial for children’s development. If this keeps on happening, they will grow
up with lack sense of concentration and focus. Children with ADHD tend to not
pay attention to details or making careless mistakes when doing school works or
other activities. They also avoid tasks that require a high amount of long-term
mental effort and organization. Being forgetful and procrastinator are also the
effects of ADHD for children. Thus, it’s better for parents to limit the time
of their children in watching television in order to prevent the ADHD. American
Academy of Pediatrics even suggests parents to forbid their under two aged
children to watch television and recommends for children over two years old not
to watch television more than two hours per day
All in all, there are some people who agree
with the idea of children spend time watching television and some who do not.
Both sides have their own reason and prove that strengthen their opinion. The
agreed side says that it can help children improve their learning skill and
enrich their cultural background information, and the disagreed one says that
it can cause obesity and ADHD. It now depends on you which one that you think
is better, whether you are on the agreed or disagreed side.
PALUPI SEKAR APSARI
130222614305/H
TASK 3
(Academic Discussion)
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