1.

Introduction

1.1 Children and media today

Nowadays, childrens daily life is more indulge on technology. They spend most of their
time on the product of technology such as television. Besides studying in school, media
has become the second highest time consume in children daily life. (The New Straits
Time 2009)

1.2 Types of media

There are many types of media around us today. Every one of them has an influence on
our children's daily life. It depends on bigger influences or lesser influences. Mass media
can be divided into four categories such as informative media, educational media,
persuasive media and entertainment media that can be receive through television, radio,
film and video, print, photography and electronic sources. Television programme are
transmitted by cable television, network television and satellite television. (Types of
media n.d.)

1.3 Effect of television programme on children

Television programmes have positive and negative effect on children. The main positive
effect such as educational programme can teach children to behave in a good manner and
build up their interest. On the other hand, the main negative influence is children that
watch a lot of violence programmes will become more aggressive.

In the survey conducted on 31 students (17-22 years old) had shown 58% of students
agree that television programme have more positive impact on children and 42% of
students disagree that television have more negative impact on children.

Number of students

the impact of television on children

20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Figure
1

1
Ye
s

2
No
Types of reaction

1.4 Aim of research

The main aim of this investigate study is to determine the effect of television in children
daily life and get to know more on the positive and negative effect of television
programmes because children are strongly affected by television programme currently.
Besides, this study also aims to examine the steps that can be enforced by parents to
control the total of time that television programme expose to their children. Furthermore,
to examine the common problem that faces by children who watch excessive television
programme.

2.0 The positive effect of television programme on children

2.1 Enhance the relationship between families

Children and parents can spend their time together by viewing television programme
together. This can strengthen the relation between children and the parents. Due to good
relationship, the child will share their problem and opinion on various matters with their
parents. (The good things about television 2009)

2.2 Educational programme

Educational programme can improve children socialism and learning ability. There are
many types of educational programme such as documentaries, cultural programme and
historical programme. Historical programme and cultural programme can make children
know more about their origin and culture. Television programme such as documentaries
can help children to think more critical about the civilization and the world. (The good
things about television 2009)

2.3 News
Children that aged between 7-12 years old are encouraged to watch news such as BBC
news and Bloomberg television with their parents as guidance. From 13 years old and
above, it is recommended children to watch news on their own because their thinking are
more mature that can basically distinguish between good and bad. News can help
children to become more aware on the current issue so that children will observe the
society and the world more. (The good things about television 2009)

3.0 The negative impact of television programmes on children

3.1 Television violence

Violence can be defined as actions using physical force intended to hurt damage or kill.
Nowadays, most of the television programmes contain lots of violence such as gun
shooting, murders, explosions, car smashes, disaster and death. Children are the most
unprotectable to the effect of television violence. Little Oxford English Dictionary &
Thesaurus (2008, p.739) defined it as actions using physical force intended to hurt,
damage or kill; great force or intensity.

3.1.1 The three major negative impact of television violence

Children will be less sensitive on others suffer and pain because they thought that killing
a people is as easy as they watched in the television programmes. Children may think
people that murdered by other will not suffer too much as they seen on television
programmes. By watching a lot of violence on television programme, children cannot feel
the pain and suffer. (American Psychological Association 2009)

Furthermore, children become fearful to the world around them. Television programmes
are one of the models for children. Besides learning from their parents and friends, the
influences of television become an integral part of the children because they gain their
knowledge through television programmes. They will become more frightened because

they will think that the world they been is something like the television programmes.
(American Psychological Association 2009)

Children may also behave more aggressive and violence towards others. Most of the
television programmes shown that the way people solve problems are using violence such
as a cartoon named "Popeye the sailor man". Every time the wife for Popeye- Olive bully
by others, Popeye will fight against them. Children will learn from the television
programme and solve problems by using violence. This makes children become more
aggressive and violence towards others. They do not know violence is not the most
effective way to solve a problem. (Mohd Idris1983)

4.0 Effect of children that watch too much television programmes.

4.1 Affect health

4.1.1 Obesity
Most of the children that watch a lot of television programmes will cause them to
be obese because the more time they spend in front of the television will reduce the level
of activity such as exercise. The more time they spend the more weight they rend to gain.
Children that are obese will have high risk on having hypertension, diabetes, and
atherosclerosis due to elevated blood cholesterol, blood pressure and increased insulin
levels. Obesity affects children health, so parents must control the time children viewing

television and encourage them to become more active on doing exercise to keep healthy
body. (How Television Viewing Affect Children n.d.)

4.1.2 Myopia
Myopia means short-sightedness. Myopia is cause by children daily lifestyle such as
frequently watch television. The rates of short-sightedness will keep on increasing if
children view television for a long time without rest. (Paul B. 2008)
In the survey that I had conducted, 87% students agree and 13% students disagree that
children that too indulged on television will affect their health.

Number of students

Children that are too indulged in

television will affect their health
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Figure
2

1
Ye
s

2
No
Types of reaction

4.2 Poor academic performance

Children that too immerse in television programmes will affect their studies because they
spend most of their time watching television programmes. They will demonstrate a poor
academic performance in their studies and get lower score in their exams. Parents who do

not discipline well will cause their child watch television programmes until they fulfilled
their satisfaction. Children spend all their strength on watching television programmes
rather than study. In some cases, children watch television programmes until midnight, so
they will be too tired for class the next day and they will doze off during class. (Gavin
2008)

In the survey conducted among 31 participants, 80% of students agree and 20% students
disagree that children that too indulged in television programme will cause them to
become lazier on doing their homework.

Number of students

Children that too indulged in television

will lazy doing their homework
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Figure
3

Ye
1
s

No
2
Types of reaction

5.0 Steps that can be enforced by parents

5.1 Set up a timetable.

To control children that spend a lot of time on watching television programmes, parents
can set up a timetable to control the amount of time their child watching television. With
a timetable, children will achieve according what their parents had scheduled. Timetable
can help parents to restrict the time of their children viewing television programmes.
Parents can turn off the television during meals to make sure their child can concentrate
better during having their meal therefore they can eat in a healthier way. Parents also can
turn off the television when their child is doing homework thus the children will
participate on their homework when there are no attractive such as television
programmes. Without a television, children can finish their homework more efficiently
therefore they are more interested in their school work than a television programme
because they are more confident in their homework. (How Television Viewing Affect
Children n.d.)

5.2 Limit the choices of television programmes.

Parents must limit the choices of television programmes to ensure the programmes their
children watch are more developmentally appropriate according to their age, gender and
stage of development. Television programmes that must be abolish from children such as
programme with violence, obscene, sexual and programmes that having too much of
fantasy. Parents can limit the choices of television programmes by checking the listing of
television programmes and program review before the programme show. First for all,

parents are the model for their child, so they need to limit their own television
programme viewing. Parents are encouraged to view television programme with their
child at least for a while to check throughout the show. (Gavin 2008)

5.3 Share opinion

Parents can share their own opinion and belief with their children depends on the show
they watched. Parents also can use the television programme to discuss difficult topic
such as sex, love, drugs, alcohol, work, behavior and family life. Parents can take
opportunity to turn off the television and ask some thought-provoking questions to their
child when the screen appears something that are not suitable for them such as violence.
Parents can ask question like "Do you think that is fine for people to fight?". Besides,
parents can suggest playing a board game, working on hobbies or craft when their child
wants to watch television programmes. Parents and child can enjoy their quality times
and free time by doing the same interest. (Gavin 2008)

6.0 Conclusion

There is still no a definite answer as is television having more positive influences or

negative influences because there will have both positive and negative impact at the same
time on children.

The main advantages on television for children are they can listen, look, think and learn
from the educational programmes. Thus children will be more interested in learning new
issue. On the other hand, television programme will also bring disadvantages for
children. For example, children that watch a lot of violence television programme will
cause them become more aggressive compare to those who watch a few. They will also
try to use violence to settle a problem. So, television programme will bring positive and
negative impact on children in the same time.

To overcome the negative impact, government must limit the choices of television
programme by classified different types of programme that can be view by different
stages. Parents are the most important role to control their children. Parents are encourage
to look after what television programme their children watch and try to spent more time
to watch television programme with their children together. Parents can set up a timetable
to control the total time of viewing television programme. Besides, parents can use the
television programme to discuss difficult topic so that the situation would not be
embarrassed

. Reference List
Gavin M.D 2008, How TV affect your child. Retrieved June1, 2009, from
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html#
How Television Viewing Affects Children n.d, The University of Maine
Bulletin #4100, pp.1-4
Livingstone,C 2008, Little Oxford English Dictionary & Thesaurus, 2nd
edn, New York.
Mohd. Idris 1983, What TV does to our children: The effect of TV
violence on Malaysian children, Consumers Association of Penang,
Penang
Parents must show the way 2009, The New Straits Time, 12 April, p.47.
Retrieved May 3, 2009, from The News Straits Time online.
Paul B. 2008, Nearsightedness. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/001023.htm
The Good Things About The Television 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2009,
from http://www.mediaawareness.ca/english/parents/television/good_things_tv.cfm
Types of Media n.d. Retrieved June 8, 2009, from
http://oasis.fiu.edu/Ch8/ch8page3.htm
Violence on Television 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009, from
http://www.apa.org/pi/vio&tv.html