Over the years, many have debated the effects of letting their children watch television or play computer games for long hours. Some will argue that many TV shows or computer games these days are quite educational and, in fact, very useful for young minds. Browsing through the TV channels, you can immediately find programs aimed at imparting learning, such as Science or the History Channels. There are also educational computer games like Scrabble, Chess, word related games, analytical games, puzzles and many more. However, experts will tell you that watching television and allowing your child to play computer games have detrimental effects on the brains of young children.

You might say that watching TV or playing video games is fine as long as there is a guardian around to control what kind of games kids play or what TV shows they watch. It goes without saying that exposing young children to video games and TV shows that depict sex and violence can have a huge effect on their development. Children may adapt what they see on TV or in video games and may even normalize harmful behavior if that is what they regularly see in their games and TV shows. For example, the popular Tom and Jerry cartoons can be quite funny, however experts and parents alike have been alarmed by the violence displayed by the two characters. Tom punches Jerry, Jerry fights back, and people watching this show can surely laugh at their attempts to murder each other. Many video games also display harmful behavior, such as sword fighting, gun combat, and shooting. Kids who watch TV shows or play video games like these may think that hitting others is normal, and in fact, it’s okay because people find it funny or entertaining to watch. So, just don’t let your kids watch violent shows or play violent games, right?

Child psychologists can tell you that it’s not just the kinds of programs or video games you expose your children to that negatively affect their brains. It’s the fact that they watch TV or play video games. Letting young children ages 2 through middle school watch TV or video games can hinder their brain development. At the early age of 1-2 years, brain training occurs and young minds need to assimilate many things around them. This time in a child’s life is crucial, as it is the time when abilities, preferences, personality, reasoning, and creativity take shape. This is the time when their young minds progress and playing video games or watching TV can negatively affect how their brains will grow. When a child is this age, he must participate in various activities, such as exploring, reading, running, interacting with people, pretend play, creating and building, etc.

Consider the following studies done on the effects of television and video games on children:

• At this early age, reading will open the imagination and allow the brain to visualize situations and objects. Allowing the child to watch television for more than 2 hours a day or more can disrupt and even hinder the brain’s development because it is no longer left to the imagination when everything is visually available on television.

• Children should participate in all kinds of physical activities such as running, jumping, swimming, bicycling, etc. Studies have shown that children who watch more than 2 hours of TV a day or who play PC games all the time have a higher chance of becoming obese. Children who enjoy outdoor activities become physically fit and generally healthier.

• Children who spend most of their time outside to play develop better social skills that they can use as they grow. Children who are used to playing PC games or watching TV from an early age tend to be lonely and become less sociable.

• PC games are fun and highly entertaining. However, children can become addicted to PC games. This addiction will prevent them from enjoying other activities and this will result in a limit on their experiences as children.

• When you allow young children to play PC games at a very young age, your child may start to develop wrist injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Your child can suffer this painful injury until he is older.

• Vision problems are common for children who learn early to play computer games or watch television for hours every day.

• Children who did not grow up watching television or playing computer games were more focused, less hyperactive, and more independent. They can sit still and read in a corner without constant parental attention.

In conclusion, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of two have no television viewing, and those older than that should have limited television viewing, preferably 1-2 hours per day only, totaling up to a maximum of only 10 hours per day. Weekend.