Television is one of America's favorite pastimes. It has become almost second nature to turn the TV on because of the need for entertainment, the need to satisfy boredom, or merely for background noise. Many people even leave the TV on while they perform other household duties. Often, children are placed near a TV set while their parents or babysitters tend to other business. Children are instantly attracted to the flashy colors and stimulating sounds provided through television. At a glance, children watching television seems harmless, however, various studies have proven that this is not a harmless activity. According to Pediatrics, "The average child or adolescent watches an average of nearly 3 hours of television per day. By the time the average person reaches age 70, he or she will have spent the equivalent of 7 to 10 years watching television" (1).

This massive amount of time spent viewing television exceeds the amount of time a child will have spent in school.

Naturally, the television provides children with learning much of the time they are watching. However, not all learning is positive. In most cases, children are learning about stereotypes, aggression

, and violence on mainstream shows. The effect of TV's negative messages on children is especially direct and harmful. "Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the messages conveyed through television, which influence their perceptions and behaviors" (Pediatrics 1). In children's' psychological development, they do not always assume that what is being viewed on the TV is pretend. The conceptual development of what is "real" and "pretend" is still taking place in childhood and even into early adolescence.

Aside from televisions possible harmful effects on children and developing adolescents, there are some positive sides to television programming. In Lifespan Development, it states that, "Children can learn academic skills and useful social skills, if parents insist that their youngsters be good viewers, and if they insist that TV improve the quality and variety of programs available for children and adolescents" (Kail and Cavanaugh 267). In Pediatrics, it says, "There are potential benefits from viewing some television shows, such as the promotion of positive aspects of social behavior (sharing, manners, and cooperation)" (1). The difference between viewing educational programs and violent/aggressive programs can make a big difference in the children's attitudes about society in general. Frequent viewers of educational programs adjust better to school with their improved math and reading skills (Kail and Cavanaugh 266). Childrens' improved performance in school can lead to hi!

In Psychology and the Media: A Second Look, it is stated that "Graphic portrayals of explicit violence and brutal sexuality have exploded in the recent years in virtually all aspects of our popular culture, particularly through the mass media" (Schwartz 174). Children are going to be affected by these unnatural and shocking portrayals of society from a very young age. In turn, effects can increase as children continue to grow and watch large amounts of television programming. Television programming can evoke both negative physical behaviors and psychological/emotional distortions in children, but with effective parental and educational intervention, the effects have been minimized.

Violence on Television. February 2001. 20 March 2001. *http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/

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