Whether to let the child watch TV early isn't always a question that worries many parents. Does TV really help the child be entertained and benefit them?
The impact of TV on a child's development
Positive effects
Some psychology experts say that watching TV isn't entirely beneficial, but it's not useless either.
In 1997, scientist Morlin conducted a memory experiment on fourth- to sixth-grade students and found that memorizing information via TV was more effective than reading text, such as remembering advertisements thanks to vivid, visual imagery. In addition, watching science and educational channels can help children improve language skills, especially for learning a foreign language.
At a young age, through TV, children can explore nature through programs like "The Animal World" or learn drawing, learn dancing with visual guidance. Some classic animated films are part of many people’s childhood and also support knowledge acquisition and entertainment. Therefore, parents can select beneficial programs so that children learn while being entertained effectively.
Negative effects
Scientifically, watching TV has both benefits and harms. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years old should not be exposed to screens, and from 2.5 years old and up only for a certain period under parental supervision. Some experts even say that if a child does not watch TV before age 12, that will be beneficial in the long term.
Too much TV viewing can lead to many consequences:
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Decreased ability to focus, as the brain is passively stimulated rather than trained to pay attention.
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Affects emotional intelligence (EQ), making it harder for children to develop communication skills and assess situations.
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Increases negative behaviors, especially when exposed to inappropriate content without proper supervision.
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Decreases physical activity, potentially leading to obesity and deteriorating health.
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Negative effects on vision, due to screen light and poor posture.
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Sleep disturbances, if watching TV before bedtime, making it hard for children to relax and prone to nightmares.
In summary, TV is not completely bad, but parents need to monitor content and viewing time to avoid negative effects on a child's development. And don't let children watch TV when they are too young.
When should a child be allowed to watch TV?
According to experts, children under 18 months old should ideally not be exposed to TV screens. At preschool age, parents can let children watch TV but with time and content controls.
However, in practice many families do not let their children watch TV in the early years and there are many positive effects. Parents should consider applying this to their own family.
Alternatives to TV for kids
Instead of letting your child watch TV early, parents can adopt several activities that help the child develop more comprehensively:
Reading books and storytelling for your child
Rather than letting the child passively absorb information through screens, parents can read books and tell stories to spark imagination and develop the child's language. Books with vivid illustrations help the child visualize content better, while also training memory and logical thinking. Parents can use the following book-based toys for the child.
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Roll-up coloring books: The child eagerly opens the long roll of pictures, eyes bright when seeing unicorns, mermaids, and the adorable Kitty cat drawings. The small hands will choose colors and enthusiastically color according to their imagination. Each bright stroke makes the child cheer, delighted to view their own artwork.
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Sách nam châm thế giới động vật: Có nhiều mảnh nam châm gắn lên trang sách với nhiều động vật đáng yêu. Bé hào hứng sắp xếp các con thú, mắt sáng lên thích thú khi tạo nên khu rừng kỳ diệu. Mỗi lần ghép đúng, bé sẽ reo vui, say mê khám phá thế giới động vật theo cách riêng.
Encourage the child to be active with creative games
Thay vì ngồi yên trước màn hình, bé cần được vận động để phát triển thể chất và tư duy sáng tạo. Các trò chơi như lắp ráp, mô hình hay vận động ngoài trời giúp bé rèn luyện sự khéo léo, khả năng tư duy logic và làm việc nhóm.
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Bộ xếp hình LEGO: Giúp bé phát triển tư duy không gian, sự sáng tạo và kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề.
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Đồ chơi vận động Little Tikes: Xe chòi chân, bập bênh, cầu trượt... giúp bé rèn luyện thể chất ngay tại nhà.
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Bộ đất nặn Play-Doh: Tăng cường khả năng sáng tạo, giúp bé thỏa sức tạo ra những mô hình độc đáo.
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Dành thời gian trò chuyện, tương tác với con nhiều hơn
TV cung cấp nội dung một chiều, nhưng trò chuyện cùng con giúp bé phát triển kỹ năng giao tiếp, tư duy phản biện và cảm xúc. Bố mẹ có thể cùng bé chơi những trò chơi tương tác để gắn kết tình cảm gia đình như chơi đồ chơi nhập vai Sylvanian Families, chơi boardgame trí tuệ hoặc chơi với búp bê Barbie hoặc Hot Wheels.
So should you let the child watch TV early? The answer is not to rush. Instead, parents should prioritize real-life interactive activities to help their child develop more comprehensively
