by Mona Rigdon

Created on: October 08, 2008

The decision to allow a child to watch the daily news is a highly individual and sensitive subject, Each child is different in the way that they take in and process information. Some children are very interested in watching the news, while others are not. For those information-hungry children that can't take their eyes of off the television, parents need to weigh the pros and cons of allowing them to view the widely varying mix of inspiring and graphic images that flash across the screen.

The Pros of Allowing Kids to Watch the News

Children who watch the news often grow up without rose colored glasses. They have a realistic viewpoint of the world, and understand risks, rewards, and consequences. These children, if brought up in an open, honest, and communicative home, are able to have a more balanced view of the world than children that are sheltered from all things negative. Watching the news can lead to well-informed children who take an interest in the world around them.

Children who watch the news are exposed to other cultures and customs early on, and any misconceptions, misunderstandings, or misinformation can be corrected early on. So long as the viewing is properly supervised and the issues discussed, parents can build a rapport with children that can become a foundation for trust and honesty as children turn into teens. Kids like to know that parents will be honest with them, and not candy coat everything. As they mature, they want (and need) the real scoop on the world.

The Cons of Allowing Kids to Watch the News

The news is UGLY a lot of the time. Graphic images of the aftermath of 9/11 haunt children who watched intently. One eleven year old child recently described to me having a dream about a plane flying into a glass building, people flying through the air, and then the building falling. This child watched the news at age four, as the 9/11 attacks occur. Discussing the similarity in the dream and what I knew he had seen on television seven years ago, he said he somehow felt it was real, just not in his life. He said it just made him really upset while he was sleeping.

Many children latch onto these graphic and negative images, and allow the images to replay again and again through their minds, and they allow fear to take over their minds. Many kids turn obsess over their fears. They feel distant battles are being fought in their own back yards. Images of children attacked by a dog may cause a fear of all dogs, or nightmares.

Watching the news can expose kids to issues before they are mature enough to handle or understand the issue. Further, exposing kids to these things early can make make children feel insecure and unsafe in such a volatile world. Making the decision as to whether your child is ready to handle the missing children, bombed villages, car wrecks, sexual, political, and corporate scandals of the world should depend on your child's maturity level, self-confidence, and ability to handle stress.

One tool to help make the determination is by introducing children to the news by TIVO is the answer. Record and prescreen the news. Watch the stories you think will benefit your child, and allow adequate time for your child to process and discuss what he or she sees. Pay attention to how your child handles this news when exposed, and follow his or her progress for a couple of weeks. Determine if the news has had negative effects like depression, irrational fears, nightmares, or negative attitude changes that might be attributed to exposure to the world. From there, you should have enough information to determine if your child is ready, or needs more screened and filtered news for now.

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