Why do children like television? [Archives:2006/979/Reportage]
Anwar Moghram
Television is an important media tool and an important source for knowledge. Further, it is an open window through which both young and old can follow the events around them, whether national, regional or international. Television's importance has increased due to people paying more attention to the TV set and it has become an influential media tool because it catches viewers' attention.
Television allows people to learn about and experience different places effortlessly and painlessly while remaining in their homes. Some view TV as children's 'fourth meal.' Though children can dispense with a meal or so, they can't dispense with TV, which every family notices. So, what are the reasons children love and run after television?
In fact, there are many reasons and factors causing children to like television and grow fond of it. They begin watching TV when they are 2 years old, but their watching is unintentional, as they're attracted by pictures and movements on the screen. But children's awareness develops as they grow, which further attracts them to the screen. Additionally, amusing and funny programs, which children like the most, make them excited.
Some psychologists think watching TV is a good sign indicating a child's intelligence. Children find TV to be an entertaining and amusing tool, as watching involves neither pain nor effort. Additionally, TV is a means of filling spare time and it allows them to tell their friends about the program they watched.
Children can resort to TV whenever they are nervously distressed or if they have low morale, thus forgetting about their problems and pain. Further, TV is a means by which they can entertain and amuse themselves via cartoon films and similar programs, from which they can imitate their favorite characters and learn new things.
TV can provide children with cultural norms and knowledge on different types of science. They also can learn about habits and customs, actions violating the law and the punishment afflicted upon violators, as well as their rights and duties in dealing with their families and those around them.
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