children and media

The development of technology in recent years has given rise to several discussions on how to control how much media exposure young people receive. Children are also affected psychosocially, which affects how they interact with their environment and others around them (Christakis). By focusing on the fact that media has both beneficial and detrimental effects on children's mental and physical health, it can be seen that progressive regulation and control by parents are necessary to ensure that kids get access to the media's most valuable content. Analysis of the child's development levels is a critical factor towards identifying whether television has either positive or adverse effects on a child. Research has shown that children who are exposed to violence films, scenes involving issues of sexuality and offensive languages tend to develop negative consequences on the child. Media, specifically television, contributes to both negative and positive effects on children.
1. As a parent, what types of television programming would you allow your child to watch, and how much time would you allow for daily viewing?
The child's brain is very delicate during the early years, and the information fed to their brains is bound to stick for many years, and this affects their wellbeing either positively and negatively. According to Tedx, the size of the brain triples within the first two years since birth, and the process involves incorporation of information and education received since the beginning of life (Christakis). As a parent, tough decisions need to be implemented to ensure the children only watch televisions for the benefits to grow their social behavior and interaction with the environment. As a parent, I would allow the children to watch kids related shows such as cartoons and nature shows since they develop the emotional wellbeing while at the same time teaching the children on cognitive development. The time frame I would limit my child would be 2-3 hours per day depending on the age and activities the child is involved in the day to day life (Boyse).
2. Describe other types of activities for a preschooler that are not related to television and that would entertain the child.
Activities for a preschooler which are not directly tied to televisions are essential in allowing the children to interact with the environment and allow for social development of the child. Such activities include actively participating in sports and games with the child during free hours, realizing the hobbies for the kid at this stage, and helping develop it as well as engaging in music which helps relax the mind and enhance flexibility (Strauss). Other activities may include a walk with the child and involvement in various projects, engagement in a variety of family activities such as bike riding, and socialization with other age groups to the kid.
3. Design an activity for a 2-year-old that can serve as an alternative to television watching as entertainment.
Children at the age of 2 years have a relentless optimism of knowing what happens in the real world owing to the tripling of their brain size during development. A suitable activity or project needs to be developed to keep the child actively involved in the day to day actions. An activity suitable for the age includes cuddling, actively engaging them in songs as well as reading variety of sets which help in healthy development (Boyse). Developing an action such as using shapes as building blocks towards creating various structures can be an excellent activity for a two-year-old as it will help advance their emotional thinking and thereby their cognitive development (Strauss). Matching the shapes enhances the capability of a child to solve critical problems, and this can act as a building block towards future development skills in the children both in the classroom and outside the classroom.













Works Cited
Boyse, Kyla. "A Guide to Managing Television: Tips for Your Family." July 2009. Michigan Medicine. 15 June 2017 .
Christakis, Dimitri. "Media and Children." 27 December 2011. Youtube. 15 June 2017 .
Strauss, Valerie. "Beware the quick tech fix when...." 13 September 2012. The Washington Post. 15 June 2017 .