by Leeanna Haugen

Created on: February 20, 2010

Parents often have a difficult time finding fault with their children watching television. The reason for that is pretty simple.... parents enjoy television too. Is watching TV bad for children? That is a difficult question to answer. However, there are benefits to limiting the amount of television that young children watch.

Opening the Door for Experience

Experience is the best teacher. By limiting TV for children, you are giving them an opportunity to have their own experiences. If children were not in front of the TV, they would be doing something else that may be more productive for their growth. Instead of watching a fun show on science experiments, they could be conducting their own experiment.

Living a Healthier Life

It is no secret that sitting on the couch is a pretty unhealthy way to spend an afternoon. Parents are responsible for instilling healthy lifestyle habits in their children. Children could be outside playing ball with their friends getting exercise. If they were limited on the amount of time they could spend on the television, they may make a healthier choice.

Becoming Socially Adept

In addition to being a relatively unhealthy pastime, watching TV is also a solitary activity. One of the most important skills that children learn is how to act and react in social situations. I am sure you have witnessed individuals who seemed to have a difficult time communicating with their peers. It is almost painful to watch. One of the best ways parents can prevent this from happening with their own children, is to expose them to a variety of different social situations. Going back to tip #1 "experience is the best teacher".

Teaching Moderation

 By setting boundaries with your children, you are teaching them about moderation. Everything is good in moderation. The problem is that many people have a difficult time determining what moderation  is. By teaching you child the importance of setting limits, they will be able to apply these techniques to other areas of their lives.

Everyone enjoys a good television show form time-to-time. Children are no different. However, as parents, you have a responsibility to set boundaries for your children. Limiting television time for young children gives children time for other activities in their lives. Television can be a great teaching tool, however, it does have its limits. The more activities your child can participate in the better chances they have of finding a great passion. Parent's goal should be to ensure they have their time distributed in a way that is of the most benefit for their child.

Learn more about this author, Leeanna Haugen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.