T.V. A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE OR DESTRUCTION: PARENT’S CHOICE

Television has been considered as a boon, a teacher and a universal friend. The way it has made a comfortable place for itself in every society, every family and in everyone’s living room is appreciable.Surprisingly, even an 8-10 month old child can correlate a remote control to the T.V. The potential impact of T.V. is dominant in the life of our children. As the researchers say, that by the time our children reach adolescence, he or she has watched T.V. for approximately 15000 hours.

            Learning from T.V. cannot be avoided. In fact, it is said-all T.V. is educational, but the only question is – ‘’What it is teaching? ’’Besides, having its educational aspect, it is also considered an important socializing tool. A tool that can be judiciously used to help differentiate the right from the wrong. But considering the content that most channels offer today, the condition is deplorable-which suggest more of violence, brutality and low moral values.

            As far as young children are concerned, the cartoon shows constitute a major part of the T.V. programs that young children view. If we focus on the impact of cartoons, most adults consider is safe and clean. But amazingly, those timid creatures even retaliate their fellowmen in a very violent way. To our surprise, what we view with anxiety is most favorable among our little heroes.

            The surprising question is why violence is so readily acceptable to our children? The answers can be-

• They see it on the screen and also off- screen within their environment that tells them that violence is a common way of life.
• Violence especially on T.V is projected as a shortcut and an easy means to attain something.
• Lack of good role models to be identified with.
• Super heroes are portrayed in a glorified manner – whose style is through violent but is always an achiever.

            Such projections confuse the child, who yet knows very little. The impact is irresistible. But it is the duty of the parents to judiciously select the programs from their children considering the content and theme character that are polite tolerant and well behaved. Similarly, when any program depicts degrading treatment to any weaker subject – parents need to react openly in saying “it is not fair” or “I don’t like such treatment”. Such words clearly tell the child the set of Do’s and don’ts, that he needs to follow.

Children have enormous energy, which needs to be canalized .In the absence of a proper outlet; it is wasted in some destructive or futile activities. Normally, we parent keep constantly telling our children of not doing this or that, while being busy in our own work. Rather, we should guide and help children to take up hobbies or games suitable to one s’ choice and aptitude. This can help them use their energy and talent in constructive way.

              And when it comes to suggesting them to watch informative channels on T.V, we must make sure that we ourselves rise above the soapy foams that various channels blow. Let us sit with them, give them a company and the explanations which they earnestly need, at last initially. Tomorrow they might look at T.V as a source of knowledge, a curtain raiser or an aggression vending machine. The choice is yours.