From the time when cable television became available in Rawalpindi more than a decade ago, massive numbers of children have grown addicted to cartoons and other TV shows causing concern among parents and researchers.
Seventh-grader Talat Shah spends most of his leisure time watching TV, particularly cartoons. He says that he loves watching these programmes the most. “My son rushes home to watch TV after school at noon every day. He eats his lunch while watching TV, all the way until late evening,” says Talat’s mother, adding that her son invests little time in his studies, and often gets bad marks.
Talat’s mother’s feelings are shared by Nafeesa Begum, who says her 9-year old daughter has been addicted to TV since she was three-year old. “My daughter refuses to eat if I turn off the TV,” she says, adding that kindergarten teachers also use television as a way to control the kids. Nafeesa, however, confessed that she and many of her neighbors also turned on the TV as a means to keep their kids occupied when they were busy cooking or washing clothes.
Some parents even use television as a way of keeping their children at home. Tafseer Hussain, a trader by profession, says that his wife and he often let their two children stay at home alone during the summer holidays. “I’m afraid that my children might be tempted by social evils, so the best thing to do is keep them inside. Most of the time they just watch TV, which is bad for their eyes and their mental health, but we’re business people, and we don’t have time to watch them in public places,” says Tafseer.
According to the latest research by the pediatricians, young children develop at a snail’s pace if they spend too much time in front of the television. Dr Salamat Ali of the Shabbir Hospital of Pediatrics says, “More and more these days I find two, three and even five-year old children who cannot speak, or who can only speak very slowly and poorly. Most of these children are suffering from effects of watching TV too much.”
A child’s brain develops very quickly, so if they sit in front of a TV all day all the time, it will affect their mental health, says Dr Salamat, adding that sitting too much in front of TV will hurt them when they try to communicate with others, or when they want to join in social activities. He advises that parents should spend time speaking to and playing with their children. Parents should allow children under three years old to watch TV for only one and a half hours per day. After that they should ask their children to narrate what they’ve watched.
“The best solution to this problem is for parents to encourage their children to read books, play football, paint or otherwise create something else, to express their creativity. They should also be taken on trips, as these can create nice environments for children to study and relax,” said Dr Ghani, working in a private hospital in the city.
The health experts often warn parents that they should not allow children to watch TV for hours at a stretch or use electronics. Instead, they should arrange plans for entertaining and playing with their child so they don’t become obese.
Talat’s mother’s feelings are shared by Nafeesa Begum, who says her 9-year old daughter has been addicted to TV since she was three-year old. “My daughter refuses to eat if I turn off the TV,” she says, adding that kindergarten teachers also use television as a way to control the kids. Nafeesa, however, confessed that she and many of her neighbors also turned on the TV as a means to keep their kids occupied when they were busy cooking or washing clothes.
Some parents even use television as a way of keeping their children at home. Tafseer Hussain, a trader by profession, says that his wife and he often let their two children stay at home alone during the summer holidays. “I’m afraid that my children might be tempted by social evils, so the best thing to do is keep them inside. Most of the time they just watch TV, which is bad for their eyes and their mental health, but we’re business people, and we don’t have time to watch them in public places,” says Tafseer.
According to the latest research by the pediatricians, young children develop at a snail’s pace if they spend too much time in front of the television. Dr Salamat Ali of the Shabbir Hospital of Pediatrics says, “More and more these days I find two, three and even five-year old children who cannot speak, or who can only speak very slowly and poorly. Most of these children are suffering from effects of watching TV too much.”
A child’s brain develops very quickly, so if they sit in front of a TV all day all the time, it will affect their mental health, says Dr Salamat, adding that sitting too much in front of TV will hurt them when they try to communicate with others, or when they want to join in social activities. He advises that parents should spend time speaking to and playing with their children. Parents should allow children under three years old to watch TV for only one and a half hours per day. After that they should ask their children to narrate what they’ve watched.
“The best solution to this problem is for parents to encourage their children to read books, play football, paint or otherwise create something else, to express their creativity. They should also be taken on trips, as these can create nice environments for children to study and relax,” said Dr Ghani, working in a private hospital in the city.
The health experts often warn parents that they should not allow children to watch TV for hours at a stretch or use electronics. Instead, they should arrange plans for entertaining and playing with their child so they don’t become obese.
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