Being a parent is a
tremendously challenging job to meet child’s basic needs. Parents are
responsible for their child’s raring, caring, their growth and development. This
will molding child’s Physical, mental, social, psychological, intellectual,
cognitive behaviors. Moreover they continue to share their responsibilities of
their child’s all activities of daily life. Beside this they are also facing
several problems regarding behaviors like more aggressive over years. While
there is a widespread concerned of most of the parents is about the influence of
media violence on their child’s behavior, has increased day by day because of
technology has changed on television program have more violence and this has
impact on children aggressive behavior. WHO defines “violence as the intentional
use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another
person or against a group or community that either resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, mal development or deprivation.” (WHO report on violence and
health, 2002).
Firstly I would like to rationalize that why I have chosen this topic because I
have read article on news paper. After that I have realized as a mother, that I
have facing many problems of excess viewing television on my children. It has
triggered me to learn more and get information on excess viewing television
effects on children. Another appropriate reason for choosing this topic is that
now a day we are going in community for home visits. I have seen in many
families that their children are not going to school but they are watching
television throughout the day. Beside this they are used to singing songs in
Hindi, fighting each other, speak abusive langue. Therefore, I have chosen this
topic so as a nurse I can explore the management of effects of media in
children. However, I want to know about this topic as area of my interest,
therefore, it triggered me to write scholarly paper on media influence children.
Television play important role in this scientific world. In addition television
channels gives lots of information and interesting news on sports, social
issues, political issues and entertainment for all age groups. Besides this many
programs on religion and geographical channels are informative and interesting.
As far as all benefits, there are lots of disadvantages of viewing television
like lots of violence on televisions likewise it effect on children behaviors,
cognitive impairment, and intellectual ability, this will lead to aggression and
violent behavior among children. There are several studies done on affects of
television viewing among children. Thus the American Psychological Association's
report on media violence concludes, In Rajani.M.K.,& M. S. Chandio.(2004).
"There is absolutely no doubt that those who are heavy viewers of violence
demonstrate increased acceptance of aggressive attitudes and increased
aggressive behavior."
On the other hand in Pakistan, television is the common entertainment and the
viewers are most common are female and children. There are few studies done on
effects of excess television viewing on children done in Pakistan. As said by
Hancox. R. J, Milne.B.j., & Poulyon. R, (2005). “There are roughly estimate data
45 per cent of the over 12 million 2006 given since future belongs to them,
effect of television on Pakistani children seems to be a matter of investigative
interest and to a lesser degree, of some genuine concern. Since the advent of TV
in Pakistan, no major study has been conducted on TV's effect on children.”
In addition to this those children who are watching more than three hours
television become affected by rapidly changing stimulation on television, which
don’t put the effort of child to think logically and they take less interest in
their studies . Moreover these children having difficulty in concentrate in
listening feel board, in reading and writing. As said by Hancox. R. J, Milne.B.j,
& Poulyon. R, (2005). “Our findings indicate that youths who frequently watch TV
may develop problems such as classroom boredom, ‘hating school’ and difficulty
doing homework – all of which may be in part a result of having become
habituated to frequently changing and highly stimulating material on the TV.”
Other than this there are several studies also suggested that those children who
are under 5years often watch program for no mean for them. They sit alone
watched television of any kind of commercial or violent movies. More over
children’s program are also not free of violence even most of the cartoons that
are display in forms of aggression. Ozmert. E, Toyran M., & Yurdakok K.
K.(2002), “Most cartoon shows revolve around the battle between good and evil
where the good employs all sorts of aggression to wipe out and rid the world of
evil powers. What would child of five or six years of age learn when it watches
its favorite characters fighting to gain control?” other than this say Thakkar
R. R, Garrison. M. M., & Christakis. D.A. (2006) “children today were more
familiar with commercial songs before they could learn nursery rhymes.”
As far as concern of young children who watch television more than 3 hours are
most influenced by media violence as their minds are more vulnerable. As said by
Thakkar R. R, Garrison. M. M, & Christakis.D.A. (2006) “They have a harder time
distinguishing between fantasy and reality and cannot discern motives for
violence. They take whatever they see on TV as realistic. They imitate those
characters and actions in their plays. Often their role models are superheroes
of some violent shows.”As I am given example of my children that they always
said that cartoon are real. They them self always called I am superman or batman
andsaid I will fly like superman batman.
More over many studies have reported several negative consequences on the health
of adolescent. They watched television several hours and eat junk food which
leads to obesity or they sit in front of television several hours and not eat
according to Fletcher J. 2006 “television causing disorder, symptoms of
psychological trauma, social skill difficulties, Anorexia nervosa, nutritional
changes, dieting and obesity and substance use and abuse and for negative
sexuality and body concept and self image”
It is observed that when children spends more time with their friends they spend
less time in viewing television and they are more socialized because peer
influenced more in their life Beside this if they are not interacting socially
they are more isolated. As said by Bickham.D.S. (2006). “developed anxiety
disorder, antisocial behavior for that they are more aggressive not socially
accepted. The social interaction is interdepending on with peer influence on
their decision making. As said by peer rejection during child hood is linked to
serious disorders and behavioral consequences in adolescent to help children
succeed socially and to overcome the problem their potential contribution”.
Lastly psychologist suggested that those who exposed to media more extensive are
having more violence on violence them .They are less sensitive to pain and
suffering for others. As said by Rajani. M. K.,& M. S. Chandio.(2004). “They are
less likely to benefit from creative, imaginative play as the normal means to
express feeling, over anger and gain self control. They tend to rehears what
they see and imitate those behaviors in their real life encounter.” Here I want
to give example of my children is that when I have observed them while playing
they used called them name of a cartoon or a name of a character of cartoon.
They sometime lose their anger and shouted, which make realized after reading
articles.
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Finally pediatrician and government should encourage the media literacy will
critically projected the health and harmful effect of television on children.
Pakistan pediatric association should focus and encourage the society on the
harmful effects health and society. Parents should keep eye on their children
that do not watching television more than 1 to 2 hours a day. Parents should
role model for the children and their future achievements. There are several
effective ways to teach your children to be media-wise. This awareness should be
given on primary care level in communities and also give awareness session in
schools to enhance this new arising burning issue. This awareness should be
given on primary care level in communities and also give awareness session in
schools to enhance this new arising burning issue. In addition there has to
include in their curriculum that they are going to media wise and used some
strategies to overcome these problems. The government should design some policy
for cable owners to band such violation on media.