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November 30, 2020 6 min read
A witty boy who resembles a rectangular kitchen sponge is a fry cook at a fast-food joint. He is a friendly guy who wishes goodness for his friends and neighbors. He takes his job very seriously and aims to receive a license to drive an automobile in the dreamy city of bikini bottom. Readers, no prizes for guessing here. I am referring to one of the most enjoyed and awarded kiddie TV show “Spongebob Squarepants” which made the broadcasting channel Nickelodeon sit on the highest viewed channel throne. 20 years and running, the show hasn't lost its popularity and kids, they adore this ‘fluorescent yellow pal’! Repeated episodes, dubbed cartoons saving the world or Thomas the grey train taking a 25th track turn in a day, as a parent you so wish to turn off the television and let some peace sink in. But hey, kids aren’t complaining. In fact, they will view the rerunning episode with the same enthusiasm, be it PAW Patrol’s 6th similar mission to rescue the cat on the tree or Peppa Pig telling you why swimming is better 106th time. No one dares to touch the remote, and it’s all good in the hood. Questions about electronics and child development, how much is too much screen time for kids, and screen time and behaviour problems are on the rise.
Stacy, mum of two boys admits that she has given up on this TV battle. She adds, both her boys have distinct personalities and choices. Elder one prefers sports and the younger one claims that “how he wished he had a home in Disneyland just like that clothes mouse does”. My television survives the daily remote fights and witnesses the sibling rivalry patiently and mutely because it can’t speak.
Okay, once you introduce a child to this technicolor entertainment unit AKA idiot box, there is never looking back for this bond, period. Kids and TV is an inseparable combo. Remember the “home alone” boy, Kevin McAllister proudly admitting in a scene that TV is his life. Surely, he wasn’t making a tall statement here.
Kids are glued to the TV for long hours and you wonder how on earth he or she is not tired? And in their growing up years, they tend to get possessive over this tussle of “TV ruling” and refuse to listen, no matter the ultimatums like “I am plugging off the TV or I am blocking this channel”. Why because, Mommies, they very well know that these are hollow talks, otherwise how will you watch the famous soap opera?
As a parent, you have “TV” questions and dilemmas like is screen time bad for kids, is this cartoon content appropriate for 5 yr old or the open promotion of kissing in a teen drama is OK on-screen? You end up getting tensed, agitated over the fact that, you don’t have control over the broadcast content and kids will roll on the floor with a hissy fit if you put off the TV in the middle of the cartoon episode.
Now technology should be included as a part of a healthy, curious childhood by making sure that you don’t let the strings too loose. Toddlers can learn a lot with shows where alphabets, rhymes are thought in an interesting visual way, similarly, young kids and teens can explore a lot through shows focusing on science, nature and curiosity enriched content.
But when there is too much screen time for toddlers and kids (more than 2 hrs), then it’s safe to say that, you are raising TV addicts, and eliminating screen time might become a need.
Eating, doing homework or playing indoor games, kids today need this screen companion in the background, no kidding...but the entire day. Some shows even help to make babies and toddlers sleep by singing lullabies too. (Admit it, mommies, you are secretly thankful for that zzz lullaby). Needless to say, the negative effects of TV outnumber the positive ones. You need to identify too much screen time symptoms in your kids and know about the effects of screen time on children. Some of the common adverse effects are listed below:
Now, it’s not wise to blame everything on TV. It’s not really that bad. If you know which programs to switch on to, TV can then become a good teaching unit too. Read below to find out the positive side of the idiot box:
Be a smart parent and take charge of that remote control. Let the television be a positive, fun influence and not a fictional spoilt box decorating that wooden unit.
Take a cue from these smart hacks:
Chances are, your young boy will be all excited and peppy to narrate the episode you missed out due to work commitments. Talk about bonding over TV!!
Anna
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