The arrival of television in our homes was a blessing in some ways and a curse in others. Although at first it allowed us to be informed and enjoy entertainment programming, today there are people who have developed an addiction to television.
The sector of the population most sensitive to television are children, since the youngest are very attracted to its lights, colors and contentFar from leaving them there in front of them for hours, as parents we must set limits for our children so that they do not become children addicted to television.
11 tips to prevent children from becoming addicted to television
The issue at hand was something unthinkable a few decades ago. Even during the first decades after the arrival of television in our homes. Children were not addicted to television and parents did not have to set limits for their children.
Today society has changed a lot and this addiction to television is not the fault of children The children of before and the Now they are genetically the same, but since then everything has changed and we must find ways to make them spend less time in front of the television.
one. Set limits
Today we live with screens at all hours It is very important to understand that there must be a time for everything, because always being exposed television is counterproductive for the cognitive development of our children.We must stipulate a time limit so that our children can watch television.
2. No need to give in
Sometimes our children blackmail us and behave badly if we don't give them what they want You have to be very careful on these occasions Because if we give in to the established rules one day, the next day something similar happens, everything will be more difficult. We must educate so that decisions about limits are respected for the good of everyone at home.
3. Not having a TV in the room
Having a TV in our children's room is a bad idea It makes us unable to control the amount of time they spend watching it , being especially serious that they look at her when going to bed. Television, with its lights, sounds and content, stimulate brain activation, and the brain interprets that there is no need to sleep
4. First things first are obligations
Television cannot simply be watched when desired in the case of children If the first thing children do when they get home from school is to turn on the television, we may be doing them an educational disservice. We can't always do what we want, but it's better to do your homework first and then enjoy your free time.
5. Culture of effort and non-immediate reward
Even adults are losing the culture of effort in appreciating non-immediate reward If you turn on the television you will have something that will entertain you without much cognitive effort, and this will harm the fact that the person later wants to, for example, read. The effort is greater at the beginning and the reward is not so immediate. It is easier and faster to consume a story watching it on television than reading it thanks to a book.
6. Pay attention to the content
There is a lot of content inappropriate for children on TV, even during the day It is best to spend time with them when the TV is on lit. Taking an interest in their tastes and promoting educational programs we can make that time in front of the television better. Talking with our children about this type of content is positive.
7. Give them attention
Many times we blame our children for watching television and it is not fair What our children appreciate most is that we spend time with them and that we pay attention to them. It is always your preference in the first instance. If we have not been able to spend time with them before, it is never too late to correct the situation.
8. Do other activities with them
Organizing activities such as a Sunday with the family is idealIt strengthens interpersonal relationships between family members, and we achieve many things. We spend time together, they develop trust with us, they have a good time, they move, they discover the world, … and they are away from television.
9. Propose other individual activities
Many times watching television is the easy resource Far from accepting this as the referential option, we should encourage them to do other things for their count, even alone. Learning to play an instrument or going to play ball with a neighbor is an ideal alternative for our little ones to have a good time and have a he althy development.
10. Mandatory break
In many homes the television is turned on while eating, and this is highly inadvisable Me altime is a special moment of the day in which all members of a family are together, large and small.If we turn on the television, we prevent communication between members from flowing, and opportunities to share things with our loved ones are lost.
eleven. Give example
Children reproduce the models they see around them If everyone at home watches TV, what parent can Annoyed that your child doesn't prefer TV to books? There are parents who are surprised by that and it is not fair. It's like forcing them to eat vegetables if no one else eats them. This type of inconsistency must be avoided to guarantee a good education.