According to a study, children who watch more educational programs instead of violent TV shows, tend to be more compassionate and less aggressive. “This is the first study to try to modify the viewing habits of preschool children,” says Dr. Vic Strasburger, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
About 600 families were recruited and assigned to one of two groups. Parents in the first group were encouraged to substitute violent shows with educational and pro-social ones.
Families in the first group were given monthly TV guides listing educational programming: shows such as “Dora the Explorer,” “Super WHY,” “Sesame Street” and “It’s a Big, Big World.” Parents were also encouraged to watch TV with their children.
Families in the second group did not change their viewing habits.
After a year, researchers found that children watching less violent and more child-appropriate shows scored better on tests that measured cooperation, a willingness to share or compromise. They also had fewer incidents of aggressive behavior such as yelling and hitting.
“Although television is frequently implicated as a cause of many problems in children, our research indicates that it may also be part of the solution,” the study notes.
Experts know that children mimic what they see, whether it’s in real life or what’s on the screen. And this is of particular concern when children watch TV or movies riddled with violence.
“It doesn’t mean that children who watch violence are going to become murderers, but they are more likely to be aggressive themselves,” says study author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
When children watch shows with positive social messages, it helps them get along better with others and gives them the tools to become better communicators, the study suggests.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that preschoolers and older children get only one to two hours of TV time a day. But in reality, they’re really watching much more. According to this study, preschoolers see an average of about four and a half hours daily at home and in daycare settings.
“Parents need to get this message that it’s not just about how much TV your children watch, it’s about what they watch,” says Christakis. “It’s not just about turning off the set; it’s about changing the channel.”
