Television Watching is popular throughout the whole world. At the early stage of television in 1931, the chairman of the Radio Corporation of American said “the potential audience of television in its ultimate development may reasonably be expected to be limited only by the population of the earth itself”. The numbers of television worldwide is estimated to stand at 1.5 billion, with many more viewers, love it or hate it; television plays a major i.e. in people’s life.
Television Watching can be a powerful teaching tool. By means of it, we learn about lands and people we may never visit, “we travel” to tropical jungles and polar ice caps, to mountain peaks and ocean depths. We pee into the intriguing worlds of both atom and stars. We watch news as to happen in the other side of the world. We gain insights into politics, history, current events and culture. Television Watching captures the lives of people in both tragedy and triumph.
The time that many people devote to Television Watching is astonishing. Recently, global study showed that, on average; Television Watching per person is about three hours each day. North Americans watch four and a half hours daily. While the Japanese top the list at five hours per day. These hours add up. If we watch four hours daily, by age 60, we will have spent ten years in front of the screen. Yet, none of us would want inscribed on our tombstone “Here lies our beloved friend, who devoted one sixth of his/her life on Television Watching.”
How are Television Viewers affected by a steady diet of Television violence and sex? Critics charge that Television violence causes people to act aggressively and to be less sympathetic towards victims of real-life violence. They also assert that the portrayal of sex promotes promiscuity and undermines rival standards.
Similarly, it has been difficult to prove that violence seen through Television Watching causes crime and antisocial behavior. Many studies do suggest that there is such a link. It is hardly surprising, then that there are opposing points of view. A Canadian psychologist wrote. “The scientific evidence simply does not show that watching violence either produces violence in people or desensitizes them to it.” “However, the American psychological Association Committee on Media and Society said. “There is absolutely no doubt that higher levels of Television Watching of violence are correlated with increased acceptance of aggressive attitudes and increased aggressive behavior.”
Increasing number of Television viewers are becoming addicts. Though Television Watching offer much that is worthwhile, heavy Television Watching can cut into family time, hinder reading and academic performance in children and contribute to obesity. According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, “Based on the cumulative evidence of studies conducted over several decades, the scientific and public health communities overwhelmingly conclude the viewing violence poses a harmful risk to children.”
The National Institute on Media and the Family puts it this way. “We agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics that there should be ‘NO TELEVISION WATCHING for children ages two and under.’ These children, who are undergoing tremendous brain development, need active play and real people interactions to promote their developmental, physical and social skills”
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
TELEVISION WATCHING: EFFECTIVE CONTROL MEASURES
So what is television watching really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about television watching--info you can use,to regain your family time that too much television watching has stolen.
Do you watch too much Television? Are you concerned about the effect Television watching may be having on your family? Here are some suggestions that may help you keep your Television watching under control.
1 FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU WATCH
It is wise to analyze your Television watching habits to see if changes should be made. Keep a diary for a week or so, writing down how much time you spend on Television watching. You may also want to list the programs that you watched, what you learned, and how much you enjoyed these programs. The main thing, though, is to calculate how much time you spend on Television watching. You may be surprised at what you find. Just knowing how much your life is devoted to Television watching may move you to make charges.
2. REDUCE YOUR TELEVISION WATCHING TIME
Try to do without Television watching for one day a week, a whole week, or a month. Instead you may want to set limits on the time spend on Television viewing each day. If you cut Television watching by half hour each day, you will have an extra 15 hours every month. Use that time, in meaningful activities, such as; pursuing spiritual interest, reading a good book, or spending time with family and friends. Studies have shown that people who do little Television watching enjoy it more than people who watch a lot of it.
3. REDUCE CHILDREN’S TELEVISION WATCHING TIME.
One way to reduce Television watching is to move the Television out of the bedroom. Children who have Television in their room spend nearly one and half hour on Television watching than children who do not. Further, when a Television is in a youngster’s room, parents do not know what the child is viewing. Parents and couples will find out that they will have more time for each other if they move the television out of their bedroom too. Some, by choice, have decided not to have a television in the home at all.
4. REDUCE WHAT YOU WATCH
There are, of course, many good programs to see. Rather than surfing through the channels or watching whatever comes on, check the listings in advance to select, the programs you want to watch. Turn the television on when the program you have chosen begins and turn the television off when it is over. Or instead of watching a program when it is aired, you may wish to record it for later viewing. That will make it possible to watch at a more convenient time and to fast-forward through commercials.
5. BE SELECTIVE
You will probably agree with me that many television characters are just like “Lovers of themselves, Lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, unthankful, disobedient to parents, disloyal, having no natural affection, fierce, without self-control, puffed up with pride.
Being selective involves self-control. Have you ever watched the first few minutes of a drama or movie and, though you realized it was unacceptable, watched the entire film just to find out what would happen next? Many have however, if you have the will power to turn off the television so you can do something else, you will probably find that you don’t really care about what happened.
Do you watch too much Television? Are you concerned about the effect Television watching may be having on your family? Here are some suggestions that may help you keep your Television watching under control.
1 FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU WATCH
It is wise to analyze your Television watching habits to see if changes should be made. Keep a diary for a week or so, writing down how much time you spend on Television watching. You may also want to list the programs that you watched, what you learned, and how much you enjoyed these programs. The main thing, though, is to calculate how much time you spend on Television watching. You may be surprised at what you find. Just knowing how much your life is devoted to Television watching may move you to make charges.
2. REDUCE YOUR TELEVISION WATCHING TIME
Try to do without Television watching for one day a week, a whole week, or a month. Instead you may want to set limits on the time spend on Television viewing each day. If you cut Television watching by half hour each day, you will have an extra 15 hours every month. Use that time, in meaningful activities, such as; pursuing spiritual interest, reading a good book, or spending time with family and friends. Studies have shown that people who do little Television watching enjoy it more than people who watch a lot of it.
3. REDUCE CHILDREN’S TELEVISION WATCHING TIME.
One way to reduce Television watching is to move the Television out of the bedroom. Children who have Television in their room spend nearly one and half hour on Television watching than children who do not. Further, when a Television is in a youngster’s room, parents do not know what the child is viewing. Parents and couples will find out that they will have more time for each other if they move the television out of their bedroom too. Some, by choice, have decided not to have a television in the home at all.
4. REDUCE WHAT YOU WATCH
There are, of course, many good programs to see. Rather than surfing through the channels or watching whatever comes on, check the listings in advance to select, the programs you want to watch. Turn the television on when the program you have chosen begins and turn the television off when it is over. Or instead of watching a program when it is aired, you may wish to record it for later viewing. That will make it possible to watch at a more convenient time and to fast-forward through commercials.
5. BE SELECTIVE
You will probably agree with me that many television characters are just like “Lovers of themselves, Lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, unthankful, disobedient to parents, disloyal, having no natural affection, fierce, without self-control, puffed up with pride.
Being selective involves self-control. Have you ever watched the first few minutes of a drama or movie and, though you realized it was unacceptable, watched the entire film just to find out what would happen next? Many have however, if you have the will power to turn off the television so you can do something else, you will probably find that you don’t really care about what happened.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
PARENTING ADVICE: SEVEN STEPS TO BETTER PARENTING
The more information you gather on parenting,the more likely you are going to turn out a better parent than you think.The sophisticated world that we live in now has defiled known child-raising principles and makes it imperative that parents seek out new methods of making the best out our children.The following tips are not all there is to raising children.
1. SEEK GOOD ADVICE
Certainly, raising a child is the most taxing yet fulfilling, and frustrating yet rewarding tasks any human can attempt. Sometimes parents may be buffeted by conflicting emotions the first time the hold a new born child in their arms. Everyone seems to have advice on raising children. In the past, new parents relied on their parents’ example or on their religious convictions to guide them. But in a number of lands, the family unit is decaying and religion has lost its influence. As a result, many parents turn to professional parenting experts for advice. Some of what these experts say is based on sound principles. In other cases, the counsel of such experts can be contradictory and may soon be considered out of date.
2. CREATE A LOVING HOME
Living in this loveless, selfish world strains family bonds. Married couples may find that the financial and emotional demands of raising children make existing marital problems escalate. Children need love and wither without it. Plan regular time together as a family. Married couples also need time alone together. Make wise of time after the children have gone to bed. Keep the romance in your family by regularly expressing affection for each other. Tell the children that you love them.
3. EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY
All the way from babyhood to their teen years, children will challenge your right to exert authority over them. Children are quick to learn bad things when their parents are afraid to assert their authority and can be relied upon to give in. Studies show that “children brought up by loving but authoritative parents-those who are supportive of their children yet maintain firm limits excel academically ,develop better social skills, feel good about themselves and are happier overall than kids whose parents are either too lenient or excessively harsh” says parents magazine.
4. DEFINE FAMILY RULES AND ENFORCE THEM PROMPTLY
Defining reasonable limits for your children’s behavior and enforcing those limits take time, effort and perseverance. And children seem to have natural urge to test any such boundaries. Therefore, why not make a written list of the household laws or rules that you feel your children must obey. Some parents suggest limiting such list to just a few rules, maybe five or so. A short list of well chosen house rules is less difficult to enforce and more likely to be remembered. Next to the rules, write down the consequences for breaking them. Make sure the punishments are reasonable and that you are willing to enforce them. Review the rules regularly so all including mum and Dad-know exactly what is expected of them.
5. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN ROUTINES
Life is hectic. Many parents work long hours, so they may have little time to spend with their children on a regular basis. Routines are major part of adult life. Work, worship and even recreation usually follow set routines. Parents handicap their children if they don’t teach them how to structure their time and to stick to a schedule. On the other hand, studies show that “having rules and structure makes a child feel safe secure and teaches self control and self-reliance”. Families can wisely make it a habit to eat at least one meal a day together. To establish this habit, meal times may need to be a little flexible to accommodate unforeseen delays.
6. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CHILD’S FEELINGS
Children are prone to express their thoughts and emotions in extreme terms. True, some of what children say is unsettling for parents to hear. For example a frustrated child may say” I HATE MY LIFE” A parents instinctive response may be “NO YOU DON’T”. Parents may worry that acknowledging a child’s negative feelings and thoughts amounts to condoning them. Children want and need the most important people in their lives-their parents to know how they feel. IF parents habitually contradict their children when such feelings are expressed, the children will be less likely to open up to them and may even doubt their ability to feel and think for themselves. Children as well as adults are far more likely to accept counsel if they feel that the one offering it truly understands them and the difficulties they face.
7. TEACH BY EXAMPLE
Actions teach, words often impact only information. For example, parents may tell their children to be respectful and always tell the truth. However, if these same parents scream at each other or at their children and tell lies to excuse themselves from inconvenient obligations ,they teach that this is how adults should behave. Strive to be good-not perfect –examples. And use your occasional poor behavior to teach a positive lesson. If a parent losses temper with the children or made a bad decision that adversely affected them, admit the mistake and apologise. This will teach the children that parents make mistakes and that we all need to work to improve our conduct .And the children will learn to apologize when they make mistakes too.
1. SEEK GOOD ADVICE
Certainly, raising a child is the most taxing yet fulfilling, and frustrating yet rewarding tasks any human can attempt. Sometimes parents may be buffeted by conflicting emotions the first time the hold a new born child in their arms. Everyone seems to have advice on raising children. In the past, new parents relied on their parents’ example or on their religious convictions to guide them. But in a number of lands, the family unit is decaying and religion has lost its influence. As a result, many parents turn to professional parenting experts for advice. Some of what these experts say is based on sound principles. In other cases, the counsel of such experts can be contradictory and may soon be considered out of date.
2. CREATE A LOVING HOME
Living in this loveless, selfish world strains family bonds. Married couples may find that the financial and emotional demands of raising children make existing marital problems escalate. Children need love and wither without it. Plan regular time together as a family. Married couples also need time alone together. Make wise of time after the children have gone to bed. Keep the romance in your family by regularly expressing affection for each other. Tell the children that you love them.
3. EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY
All the way from babyhood to their teen years, children will challenge your right to exert authority over them. Children are quick to learn bad things when their parents are afraid to assert their authority and can be relied upon to give in. Studies show that “children brought up by loving but authoritative parents-those who are supportive of their children yet maintain firm limits excel academically ,develop better social skills, feel good about themselves and are happier overall than kids whose parents are either too lenient or excessively harsh” says parents magazine.
4. DEFINE FAMILY RULES AND ENFORCE THEM PROMPTLY
Defining reasonable limits for your children’s behavior and enforcing those limits take time, effort and perseverance. And children seem to have natural urge to test any such boundaries. Therefore, why not make a written list of the household laws or rules that you feel your children must obey. Some parents suggest limiting such list to just a few rules, maybe five or so. A short list of well chosen house rules is less difficult to enforce and more likely to be remembered. Next to the rules, write down the consequences for breaking them. Make sure the punishments are reasonable and that you are willing to enforce them. Review the rules regularly so all including mum and Dad-know exactly what is expected of them.
5. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN ROUTINES
Life is hectic. Many parents work long hours, so they may have little time to spend with their children on a regular basis. Routines are major part of adult life. Work, worship and even recreation usually follow set routines. Parents handicap their children if they don’t teach them how to structure their time and to stick to a schedule. On the other hand, studies show that “having rules and structure makes a child feel safe secure and teaches self control and self-reliance”. Families can wisely make it a habit to eat at least one meal a day together. To establish this habit, meal times may need to be a little flexible to accommodate unforeseen delays.
6. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CHILD’S FEELINGS
Children are prone to express their thoughts and emotions in extreme terms. True, some of what children say is unsettling for parents to hear. For example a frustrated child may say” I HATE MY LIFE” A parents instinctive response may be “NO YOU DON’T”. Parents may worry that acknowledging a child’s negative feelings and thoughts amounts to condoning them. Children want and need the most important people in their lives-their parents to know how they feel. IF parents habitually contradict their children when such feelings are expressed, the children will be less likely to open up to them and may even doubt their ability to feel and think for themselves. Children as well as adults are far more likely to accept counsel if they feel that the one offering it truly understands them and the difficulties they face.
7. TEACH BY EXAMPLE
Actions teach, words often impact only information. For example, parents may tell their children to be respectful and always tell the truth. However, if these same parents scream at each other or at their children and tell lies to excuse themselves from inconvenient obligations ,they teach that this is how adults should behave. Strive to be good-not perfect –examples. And use your occasional poor behavior to teach a positive lesson. If a parent losses temper with the children or made a bad decision that adversely affected them, admit the mistake and apologise. This will teach the children that parents make mistakes and that we all need to work to improve our conduct .And the children will learn to apologize when they make mistakes too.
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