Children and Television: At What Age and How Much Should It Be Watched?

Why is it important for children to limit television contact? How should the theme of television be in children? Is television harmful for children? Is it right to completely isolate children born in the digital age from the screen?

When can the child spend time in front of the screen?

First of all, it is not possible to keep children completely away from the screen in today’s world where digitalization and technology are spreading rapidly. It is also not right to deprive them of experiencing modern technologies. Of course, you can have your child watch television and use a smart device in a controlled manner. But there are two very important details here: Age and duration.

After the age of two, it allows your child to have a fun time by watching television and video for a total of one hour, provided that he supervises the programs he watches.

Recommendations for correct screen use

• Children should stay away from television until the age of 2.
• A total of 1 hour a day is sufficient and reasonable for a 2-year-old child to watch TV.
• You can create 20-minute programs by dividing this time into three.
• You can also choose documentaries suitable for your age.
• For video watching activity, you can also occasionally prefer a desktop or laptop screen instead of a touchscreen all the time. If you want to try using touchpad or mouse, you can support.
• Morning hours are when the brain is most receptive to learning. If the screen is preferred in the morning, foreign language education and similar instructional videos should be preferred. The duration should not exceed 20 minutes. The remaining two screen time can be spread between noon and noon.

Is it right to ban television altogether?

No. Banning it outright after the age of two encourages her to engage in screens wherever she sees it or whenever you’re not around. After a while, it causes him to be addicted to the screen. This is something we do not want.

Can the duration of watching TV increase with age?

It does not increase. Because with age, awareness and understanding capacity increase. If screen addiction develops between children and television, the problems diversify. Imagination weakens, academic skills begin to retard. Has problems in social communication.

What are the harms of watching TV?

At times, families see the screen as a savior. However, entrusting children to the screen can have harmful consequences for their children in the long run. Keeping children under the age of two absolutely away from all kinds of screens; After the age of two, the screen should be limited to one hour. We can list the reasons as follows:

Your baby can have an epileptic seizure!

Too many color and light transitions can cause electricity in the baby’s brain. As a result, your baby may have an epileptic seizure. The epileptic seizure in infants and children is not similar to the epileptic attack seen in adults. In infants, these seizures may be in the form of eye or mouth twitching, eye twitching, and involuntary drooping of the head.

Screen exposure at an early age can delay speech!

Tools such as televisions, tablets and phones carry out a one-sided communication. Hearing a sound from the device, the baby responds as if it is being spoken to, but does not get the desired reaction. The baby/child may stop making noises because they cannot react. Therefore, he turns inward and perhaps refuses to speak.

Screen can trigger autism!

A child who does not realize himself, does not research, does not play, shows developmental retardation. Children who spend time in front of a screen before the age of two (or too much screen exposure after the age of two) do not progress in physical development.

They may forget the game, the movement, the skills!

After a while, children may forget movement and play. As his imagination weakens, his skills such as making games and creating games disappear. They may refuse to perform the behaviors and skills they should be able to do according to their age. (Cutting paper with scissors, holding a pencil, painting, pedaling, etc.)

Children are not socialized; addicted to home and screen!

It is also difficult for children in this situation to meet their social needs such as making friends, being liked and appreciated. With adolescence, problems become more complex. Child television relationship causes psychological problems after a while.

He becomes unable to meet his own needs!

It seeks outside support. For example, a child who is used to being fed in front of a screen may find it difficult to eat on his own after a while.

May cause disruption of sleep pattern!

Exposure to the screen, especially in the evening, can cause both sleep disruption and nightmares.

Let’s keep “social distance” with the screen!

Let’s not forget: The screen is not a friend, foe or savior. It is our choice to take advantage of it or be harmed.