Dangers of Background Television

The Danger of Background Television

            Does television, in the home, cause problems for the young children of the United States? This is a question that has been debated for several decades with various opinions and results. Television plays such a prominent and powerful role in the lives of individuals as well as families. In fact, the average American family is made up of 2.5 people and has 2.86 television sets, according to The Nielsen Company’s 2009’s findings. (Nielsen Company). If there are negative effects, what might they be and how do they come about?

            One of the negative effects of television in the home is the result of background television. Our main focus, as it should be, is on what children are watching during direct exposure. However, while the young child is playing, it has been discovered, they are also impacted by the television that is playing in the background. This is called indirect exposure. Many homes have the television(s) on most of the time throughout the day and the night. The play of the young child is interrupted by the changes of sound, light and picture on the television. This causes the child to stop playing and to turn to the television, then return to play. These constant interruptions are believed to have an adverse effect on the child’s cognitive ability as well as their attention span. This is a great concern to the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as many others involved in Child Development.

            It was found “In a study, done by Pierroutsakos, Hanna, Self, Lewis and Brewer in 2004, they asked one hundred upper-middle-class parents to keep dairies of their two and a half to twenty-four month old infants’ television exposure each day. The children were exposed to an average of one-hundred-twenty minutes of television each day. Forty-nine percent of that exposure was adult and preteen programming” (Schmidt, M., Pempek, T., Kirkorian, H., Lund, A., & Anderson, p. 1138, 2008). M. Lapierre, J. Piotrowski, and D. Lineberger shared in their article, “Background Television in the Homes of US Children,” which appeared in Pediatrics Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, October 2012, “The average child is exposed to 232.2 minutes of background television on a typical day.” They went on to explain, “Leaving the television on while no one is viewing and children’s bedroom television ownership were associated with increased background television” (p. 839). That is close to four hours of background television that the average young child is exposed to each day.

  

(washparkchiro.com)

 Because it is part of everyday life, most people do not realize how much the television is on while it is not being watched. Nor do they realize the possible impact the background television might be having on the infant that is in the home. In an article for Child Development in August 2008, M. Schmidt stated, “Television exposure for children aged 30 months and younger is associated with poorer cognitive and language development.” They also pointed out, “Parents’ estimates of their children’s television viewing at eighteen and forty-two months were positively associated with parental reports of attention disorder symptoms at age seven.”

Cognitive development is important as it has to do with our ability to remember, to make judgments, to reason and how to use knowledge. Language development is learning to talk. Some of the reasons for both of these difficulties could also have to do with the quality of parent-child interactions, which is also affected by not only the child’s  being distracted by the background television, but the parent being distracted as well. So rather than the parent and child spending quality time interacting together, they are both distracted by the background television.

  

(californiaschildren.typepad.com)

A very sobering discovery in the research of the effects of background television was the children with the greatest exposure to background television are those from the poorest families. African American children, younger children and children with parents with lower education levels were found to be exposed to greater amounts of background television, up to six hours a day. (Lapierre, et al, p. 842, 2012) This would make one wonder if there are greater problems with language and cognitive development among these groups. Are there other problems that are related to the background television exposure? Lapierre and crew found, “Background television exposure has been linked to lower sustained attention during playtime, lower quality parent-child interactions and reduced performance of cognitive tasks” (p. 840, 2012)

            Play is often thought to just be something that children do. However, play is very important to the development of the child both cognitively and socially. Playing helps the child to develop motor skills, and to learn about objects. They are able, through playing, to learn about cause and effect. While playing they are able to stretch their imaginations and step into different roles to imitate the fireman or a princess. It is believed that the constant presence of background television can be an interruption to children’s play and has a role in the negative relationship between early exposure to television and cognitive development (Schmidt, et al, p. 1138, 2008).

            The study done in 2012 stated, “Our results indicate that children are exposed to a tremendous amount of background television. The average US child under eight years is exposed to four hours (232.2 minutes) of background television on a typical day. This is far greater than direct exposure” (Lapierre, et al, p. 842, 2012). They added to this statement, “The American Academy of Pediatrics renewed their recommendation that children two years and under should not be exposed to any television content,” (p.843).

            Television, indirectly or directly, seems to have a negative influence on our young children. If we were to also take into account the programing content as well as advertising, our findings could be staggering. We would do well to take into careful consideration removing the offender from our home or at least limiting when it is on.

     

References:

Lapierre, M.S., Piotrowski, J.T., & Lineberger, D.L. (2012). Background television in the homes of US children. Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Volume 130, Number 5, pages 839-843. Doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2581

Schmidt, M.E., Pempek, T.A., Kirkorian, H.L., Lund, A.F., & Anderson, D.R. (2008). The effects of background television on the toy play behavior of very young children. Child Development, Volume 79, Number 6, pages 1137-1151.

The Nielsen Company (2009). http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2009/more-than-half-the-homes-in-us-have-three-or-more-tvs.html

If I Could Talk To Dad...

As I was leaving work yesterday, a co-worker said, “Happy Father’s Day, Don.” I replied, “You have a great one as well.” She said, “Thank you, but my father is gone.” I hesitated for a moment and said, “Mine is too. I really do miss him.”

We went our separate ways. I walked about twenty feet or so and was suddenly overwhelmed by a great sense of loneliness and began to weep right there in the parking lot. I hurried to my car and the tears continued to flow. I was surprised, embarrassed and at a loss. My father was promoted to heavenly duties almost fourteen years ago, why the sudden rush of tears? Then it came to me, I really wanted to just sit and talk to Dad.

One of the things I treasured about my relationship with my Dad was that I could talk to him about anything. I don’t remember him ever having the attitude that because he was Dad he knew it all. It seems to me that he always listened to my opinion or thoughts and then gave his when it was asked for. So, as I drove toward home I began to think, with the tears still streaming, of what I would talk to Dad about if he were still around.

I would talk to him about my kids and how proud I am of them. Justin has become the horseman that he has always wanted to be. He owns a business, a store, selling tack and supplies for horses and riders. He has a great son, Zac and is a wonderful father with fatherly qualities that I wish I had possessed at his age. Yes, Dad would be so proud of Justin.

I would tell him about our little girl, Abby. What a wonderful mother she has become. She takes good care of her boys, Donavan and Declan. Oh how Dad would laugh at them and the funny things they say. He would love Kelsey and would enjoy talking with him. I would also tell Dad how thankful I am for the way that Kelsey loves and takes care of Abby and his boys. How good that makes me feel. He would be thankful to know of their love for God and their desire to be used in the kingdom of God. Dad would be thankful.

I would tell him about Jared. I see so much of Dad in Jared. His love for the Word of God. He has a love for people and a tenderness that touches others. I would tell him how much I love to hear Jared preach, I know Dad would understand. I would tell him about Amber and what a blessing she has been to Jared and to our family. Dad would be proud of Jared as well.

If I could talk to Dad, today, I would be sure to let him know what a great son he raised in Tim. I know Dad was concerned when he left because Tim was so young. But Dad, you and Mom did well. He is a great man, father and husband. Added to all of that, he is a great man of God. He has raised his family to love and serve the same God that you served. Dad, you can be thankful.

I would tell Dad about that I started teaching a home Bible Study the other day to a friend from work. It was so exciting to sit in McDonald’s and show him the things of God in the scripture and to see the excitement on his face. We met at his house this week and he is wanting to bring friends and family to study with us. I am really excited Dad.

While we are talking, there are some things that concern me, greatly, that I would love to share with Dad. I received an email from a person who is deeply concerned because their pastor has changed his message. He seems to be straying from the Truth of the Word of God and following the easier way. I also heard of a pastor who recently said he wouldn’t name sin.  It wasn’t his job. Dad always taught us that we were to love truth and we were to preach straight, easy to understand messages that would help people to know right from wrong. One of Dad’s favorite sayings was, “After you are finished dancing and shouting, you need to walk right, talk right and spit white!” That is how I am trying to live.

I would tell Dad about Melinda.  She was always his favorite girl. I am so proud of her! She has started college and is doing well. She works so hard and gives it everything she has. What a wonderful mother and grandmother she is. She loves her babies! I would let Dad know that she is also taking care of Margie and Mom. She watches out for them as much as they will let her, you know how those two are.

Well there is so much to say and to share with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. I would be sure to tell him how Mom is. I am taking care of her for you, just like I promised. She slowing down a lot, she will be eighty this August. She takes her walks down the road a couple times a day, but she carries a cane now to help when she gets tired. Oh, but she is just as ornery as she ever was. Hey, she is just as funny, too. Dad, you are still her favorite subject. Every once in a while, at least once a week, she will bring in a picture and ask, “Have you ever seen this?” It will be one that she has shown me several times before and I know that she is just wanting to talk about her man. She is doing well.

I would end our talk by saying, “Dad, I do ok with the holidays and birthday, when they come and go. I always miss you on those occasions. However, it’s on Father’s Day that I have a hard time. That was our special day! So, before I say goodbye I just want to thank you for being such a great Dad. Thank you for teaching me to be a man. You taught me how to love my God, my family, my Church and my country. You taught me the importance of giving and loving. You showed me how to stand for truth and godliness. I love and miss you, Dad!”