by Lindsey Trimmer

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 19, 2009

Unfortunately the negatives of watching television far outweigh the positives. Children are growing up with TV. In most families there are at least 2 televisions, some of which are in the children's bedrooms. There are major negative effects that television is having on children. These negative effects are the time children spend in front of the TV and also what they are learning while watching.

Children are now spending more time in front of the TV than they are doing schoolwork and being physically active. Childhood obesity is a rising epidemic and TV watching is a contribution. Instead of coming home from school and playing sports or running around outside, children would rather be watching their favorite television program or playing video games instead. Its really becoming a problem and causing our children to develop unhealthy habits at a very young age. Parents should give their children a limit on TV watching in order to get engaged in something more mentally or physically stimulating.

Children are constantly picking up new behaviors from what they see on TV. Each year you see more and more unacceptable behavior being portrayed on TV. These behaviors are being looked at as cool. Children want to do what they see the attractive stars on TV and the movies doing. The programs are promoting sexual immortality, drug use, and violence. Almost every program available to watch has some type of emphasis on one of the three. This is teaching children that it is normal to have sex before marriage, cheat on your husband or wife, swear at and disrespect your parents or teachers, drink before you are 21, and illegally use drugs. These things are being talked about and seen on TV all the time.

Even commercials now have underlying sexual innuendos. There are women half dressed eating a burger from Hardees in a seductive matter and commercials advising to consult a doctor if experiencing an erection for 4 or more hours. If you think about something that you see over and over again, does it continue to frighten you, or make you mad? Or does it start to become normal and accepted? Unfortunately people are accepting these behaviors on TV and children are growing up with it broad casted in front of their eyes each and everyday. It's saddening to think that these issues are becoming more and more accepted each and every day. It frightens to me think what is in store for our children in the future.

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