Indian Express – Rude Nasty TV Show characters impact Children- Kala Balasubramanians views featured in Indian Express
TV Shows, be it Cartoons or Reality shows, when the characters are being rude and nasty, has a significant impact on children. Today the screen time that the child is exposed to has increased multi-fold, with the child’s access to gadgets as well. Screen time includes, Television, Mobiles, Tablets, Computers, laptops and so on. You can see the same shows and episodes, practically – unlimited times on the internet.
Children are at an impressionable age that they are not capable to distinguish between reel and real; between what is good for them and what is harmful for them. Children need to be given limited autonomy. But when it comes at a cost of harming the child, parents need to intervene. They need to handle the child’s demands, tantrums if any, in an assertive and adaptive manner.
Children also learn by observation . Parents and other caregivers also need to show what is good behavior by practicing what they preach.
- Limiting the exposure to some of these rude and nasty programs and shows is the first step
- Limiting screen time itself is critical
- Explaining the harmful effects to the children
- Parents need to model by their own behavior