University of Sharjah

Department of Foreign Languages

TV and children

Salma Adeeb

U18104028

Research Paper Writing

Prof. A. F. Abu-Ssaydeh

Spring 2019/2020
 Introduction

“71% of 8- to 18-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom, 54% have a DVD/VCR player, 37%

have cable/satellite TV, and 20% have premium channels “(Boyse). TV is one of the greatest

innovations invented by humans. Everyone and every house have at least one Television. It is an

entertaining and useful device for the whole family. But it is a bit concerning nowadays, because

children are disturbingly spending so much time on it, where in the last thirty decades, children’s

place to play was the playground. But now a lot has changed. This is a central issue and it is

important to take actions and seek for the best for our children. This paper will examine five

points: 1- The general effects of TV on children. 2-The impact that advertising leave on children

and materialism.3- The glorification of poor role models and criminals. 4-Violente content being

in almost all children TV programs and Finlay, 5-The parents job.

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 First: TV Effects on Children

“Television viewing uses up time. One observation is that if people spend more time watching

television, they must be spending less time doing something else.” It effects the development

and growth of young viewers and it might kill their love and need for activity (McAleer and

Gunter 9).

Anything has good and bad effects. And that includes Television. I believe that TV cons are

higher than its pross, but it does have useful things.

Good effects:

1. Entertaining

2. Educational

3. Creativity

4. One of the things the television does today is baby setting, even though it does not

perform the duties of a babysitter, it might not keep the child from getting in danger but it

surly can keep them quiet. A lot of mothers say that television has made it easy for

caring for a child (McAleer and Gunter 20).

Bad effects:

1. If the child is exposed in his early years to TV, it is possible to delay his language

learning and development.

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 2. It can cause sleep problems which is very important in childhood.

3. It causes long-term social development and engagement problems (Infants, Toddlers and

Television).

4. If they spend more than 4 hours a day on tv, they’re more like to be over weight (How

Media Use Affects Your Child).

Second: Advertising and Materialism:

Children are the number one target for marketers in advertainments, because they are so

manipulative. Advertisings and premiums brands power for manipulating children products like

cereals and toys is capable to confuse the child and make it hard for them to choose (Adler et

al.63).

violent commercials effects on children are serious, because it involves a very common

mechanism which is imitation. If not, it can frighten children and make them anxious. It could

change the behavior and attitude of a child towards violence, to become violent and crazy (Adler

et al.75).

A study stated that mothers complain about advertising and its manipulation for making their

children wanting to buy the product that is being advertised. And this mostly effects families

with a low-income. So, this for sure might destroy relationships between the child and their

parents (Adler et al.134).

Exposing the child to commercials repetitively, result stronger effects (Adler et al.109).

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 Third: Criminals are Glorified

“The media’s glorification of criminals help foster the idea of instant fame. It tells the world’s

lost and lonely souls that if they can create enough terror, their name will be etched in the history

books forever” (LA).

Movies, TV shows and video games all in the act of glorifying violence and criminals. A study

declared that around 90% of American children had the exposure of violence. And most of them

liked violent games rather than non-violent games (Hajee). What can be understood is, if we’re

showing criminals as a role model or as heroes, it is clear that kids will get attached to them, and

they would want to imitate them. Specially boys.

To say the least, I think it is close to imposable to wipe out the idea of glorifying criminals, just

because it is actually what adults and grownups love, and that is a big problem.

Fourth: Violence in Children’s TV

Scientific evidence supports that violence in media is a major factor of violent children

(Degaetano and Grossman 23).

It is shown in a study that violent content can be in comedy and non-comedy content, which

involves human violence, weapons, death or injury as result of violence, and frightening

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situations, all can be in a comedian programs (Adler et al.78). On the other hand, fantasy

violence does not mean it is suitable for a child, it still has the imprint of violence, such as Bugs

Bunny cartoon program (Adler et al.81).

A study has announced that children who watch violence on TV, their aggression tends to get

higher (Strickland and Cater 48). And, if they are aggressive towards others, they tend to enjoy

and like the violent content (Strickland and Cater 49). And if they are aggressive while they are

in their childhood, the aggressiveness is going to grow with them (Strickland and Cater 50). In

other words, if the child is exposed to violent and aggressive content, it is likely to make him a

danger on others and himself.

We know that TV violence is showing in superhero programs and criminal programs. And for

that, researchers have found that about 40% of violent content is performed by good characters

“superheroes”, who are supposed to be a role model for children (Adler et al 62). And if some

scenes are performed in real life it would be absolutely fatal. only a few programs emphasize an

antiviolent theme (Adler et al 63).

The effects of media violence on children can differ depending on their age, but its harmful

anyway (Gentile 28).

Fifth: The Parent’s Job:

The parent’s reaction for children’s commercials is often negative. And they’re willing to pay the

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price of the commercial for it to stop (Adler 134). But, the average level of concern for parents

about children commercials is not high (Adler 135). So, what is the exact attitude from parents

towards children TV. It is obvious that if not all parents but the majority care and want to help

their kids. But how?

Realistic steps parents can take to teach their children and help them out if they are already in

danger by the bad effects of TV:

1: Create a Family Media Plan

Try to be open about what you use in the field of media and teach them how to distinguish

between what’s good and what’s wrong in using media.

2: Whenever Your Child Tries New Tech, You Try It Too 

Play video games with your kids, check what apps they’re downloading, and play them together

or ask them to show them to you.

3: Get Some new Ideas for Unplugged Play!

Playing and communicating with your child stimulates creativity and builds up problem -solving

and confidence (Radesky).

4: Teach them what is wrong and what is right

Point out that although the actor has not actually been hurt or killed, such violence in real life

results in pain or death (Children and TV Violence).

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 Conclusion

This paper intended to highlight TV’s bad and good effects on children, the manipulation by

children brands advertising, how evil characters are being celebrated and prized by media

and society, how violence is literally in most of children’s programs and movies and lastly,

ways for parents to help their kids out. TV is actually very valuable. But the main issue about

it towards the child is violence and aggression. And if media, all around the world and full on

grownups are allowing this to happen and making it seem as if its not a serious problem, then

I think that the children’s future is not assured. This is going to keep on happing until a

miracle, saves children.

 Work Cited

Books
Gunter, Barrie, Jill, McAleer. Children & Television. Routledge, 2005, google books,

https://books.google.ae/books?
id=n5aFAgAAQBAJ&dq=tv+and+children&hl=ar&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Adler, Richard, National Science Foundation (U.S.), Division of Advanced Productivity

Research and Technology, “Research on the Effects of Television Advertising on Children: A
Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Future Research : Report Prepared for
National Science Foundation, Research Applications Directorate, RANN--Research Applied to
National Needs, Division of Advanced Productivity Research and Technology”, NSF, 1977.

Cater, Douglass, Stephen, Strickland, “TV Violence and the Child: Evolution and Fate of the
Surgeon General's Report”, Russell Sage Foundation, 1975.

Degaetano, Gloria, Dave, Grossman, “Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against
TV, Movie & Video Game Violence “, Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale, 2009.

Gentile, Douglas A.,” Media Violence and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents and
Professionals”, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003.

Websites
The urban child institute, “Infants, Toddlers and Television” The urban child institute, 2016,
APRIL 4,

http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/articles/policy-briefs/infants-toddlers-and-television/

Boyse, Kyla. “Television and Children”, Michigan Medicine University of Michigan,  August
2010, http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/tv.

Radesky, Jenny. “Kids and Digital Media”, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital University of
Michigan, 2017, May, https://www.mottchildren.org/posts/your-child/kids-and-digital-media

Bradley Hospital, Children and TV Violence, Lifespan,

https://www.bradleyhospital.org/children-and-tv-violence.

La, Hetty,” FROM KILLERS TO INSTANT CELEBRITIES: HOW THE MEDIA GLORIFIES
CRIMINALS” The Hornet, https://hornet.fullcoll.edu/from-killers-to-instant-celebrities-how-the-
media-glorifies-criminals/.
Hajee, Kaashif, “AMERICA'S GLORIFICATION OF VIOLENCE”, The Gazelle, 2018, FEB
24, https://www.thegazelle.org/issue/130/opinion/americas-glorification-of-violence .

Kids Health, “How Media Use Affects Your Child” Kids Health Blog,
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tv-affects-child.html.