TELEVISION
Television has the .....[1]..... to generate both positive and negative effects, and many studies have looked at the impact of television on society, particularly .....[2]..... children and adolescents. An individual child’s developmental level is a critical factor in determining whether the medium will have positive or negative effects.
- Canadian children watch excessive amounts of television.
- There is a relationship between watching violent television programmes.
- Excessive television watching contributes to childhood obesity.
- Excessive television watching may have a harmful effect on learning and academic performance.
- Television is an .....[3]..... way of advertising products to children of various ages.

The average Canadian child watches nearly 14 h of television each week. By his/her high school graduation, the average teen will have spent more time watching television than in the classroom. Television viewing undoubtedly limits children’s time for .....[4]..... activities such as playing, reading, learning to talk, spending time with peers and family, storytelling, participating in regular exercise, and developing other necessary physical, mental and social skills. In addition to the amount of time spent in front of the television, other factors that influence the medium’s effect on children include the child’s developmental level, .....[5]..... susceptibility and whether children watch television alone or with their parents.

Learning
Television can be a powerful teacher. Watching Sesame Street is an example of how .....[6]..... can learn valuable lessons about racial harmony, cooperation, kindness, simple arithmetic and the alphabet through an educational television format. Some public television programs stimulate visits to the zoo, libraries, bookstores, museums and other active recreational settings, and educational videos can certainly serve as powerful prosocial teaching devices. However, watching television takes time away .....[7]..... reading and schoolwork. More recent studies show that even 1 h to 2 h of daily .....[8]..... television viewing has a significant negative effect on academic performance, especially reading.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Families should be encouraged to explore media together and discuss their educational value. Children should be encouraged to criticize and analyze what they see in the media. Parents can help children differentiate between fantasy and reality.
• No child should be allowed to have a television, computer or video game equipment in his or her bedroom. A central location is strongly advised with common access and common passwords.
• Television watching should be limited to less than 1 h to 2 h per day. Families may want to consider more active and creative ways to spend time together.
• Older children should be offered an opportunity to make choices by planning the week’s viewing schedule in advance. Ideally, parents should supervise these choices and be good role models by making their own wise choices. Parents should explain why some programs are not suitable and praise children for making good and appropriate choices.
• Families should limit the use of television, computers or video games as a diversion, substitute teacher or electronic nanny. Parents should also ask alternative caregivers to maintain the same rules for media use in their absence. The rules in divorced parents’ households should be consistent.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/