From Deseret News archives:
Kids and TV: Truth, myths may surprise parents
Yet, for all the television kids are watching, much of what parents think they know about television's impact on their children is wrong. For instance, in the early 1970s, it was common knowledge that television was bad for your eyes: My own parents were convinced that my bad eyesight was the result of sitting too close to the screen, and they therefore made me stay at least six feet from it. Today, most people know that television viewing does not cause vision problems, but a host of new myths have emerged, still ripe for debunking:
1. TV makes kids dumb. Actually, high-quality TV shows such as "Sesame Street" and "Blue's Clues" improve children's cognitive abilities. Study after study has shown that children 3 to 5 years old who watch "Sesame Street" for an hour a day are better able to recognize numbers, letters and shapes than those who don't. When 500 kids who had participated in some of those studies were followed up as teenagers, those who had watched educational programs as preschoolers had higher grades, were reading more books, placed more value on achievement and were more creative than those who had not.
But a study of more than 5,000 children also found that "pro-social" programs (think "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood") make children kinder and more tolerant. In fact, the linkage between good behavior and watching good programming is as strong as the link between bad behavior and bad programming. The problem is that kids are increasingly watching shows with violence and sex instead of programming that is appropriate for their age.
Recent comments
I think its great that someone is finally showing the positive side...
Tonya Tucker | May 28, 2009 at 8:03 a.m.
- BYU to wear royal blue uniforms 5:38 p.m.
- Family recounts CO experience 5:18 p.m.
- Gift-giving students win contest 5:16 p.m.
- 2 men face child porn charges 5:15 p.m.
- Davis' 2010 budget leaner than 2009 5:13 p.m.
- Woods to take leave from golf 5:13 p.m.
- Regents approve college merger 5:12 p.m.
- Odor clears out BYU Bookstore 5:09 p.m.
- New plans for Sandy Proscenium land 3:27 p.m.
- Holladay development appeal denied 2:59 p.m.
- Letters: Global warming a lie
272 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
207 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
195 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
169 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
151 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
143 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
134 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
130 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Is Gary Briggs also the Jazz's strength and conditioning coach?
Which lies are those? By all means, explain yourself, Mr Bacon. One...
Average Strength of Schedule from the BCS computer rankings which factor...
"Wealthy nations would commit to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions...
If Pujols and A-Rod are on this list then they have to put Jeter in the mix,...
The church has a place in Salt Lake called welfare square. That is where...
you guys are so imature. Who ever said Matthews is a better shooter is so...
Waterboarding is like any other form of torture, you may get the answers you...
Saw it coming but none the less a wonderful accmplishment and we are so proud...
BSU's game against Oregon was the second of a home and home. Last year BSU...

