Dec 28 2007
Violence on TV
There has been much research done on the effects of sex and violence on TV on children. I don’t claim to know what the experts’ findings are but currently, I’m certainly witnessing how my young son is imitating those scenes he watches on TV.
In Hong Kong, one gets to watch all sorts of drama series during the prime times at night from those kung fu costume dramas to love stories. I think my son was probably exposed to those cops and robbers TV series because he now knows how to run around the apartment with a gun-like toy shouting “Action! Action!”, just like how it is portrayed in the shows.
I suppose it is a pretty harmless imitation but at the same time, I don’t think he comprehends what he actually sees on TV at 2.5 years old. Does he understand that it is only a show or am I under-estimating him here?
At the moment, I switch channels when it comes to certain shows like wrestling with all the blood and “real” violence, but with so many undesirable elements in today’s TV programs (including foul language), I don’t think I can be controlling everything that he is being exposed to. After all, even cartoons nowadays can be pretty violent. I guess it is up to me to drum it into his head that it is only a show and don’t imitate, but I don’t think I would really know what is going on in his head.
Now what I want to know is, do you really see a need to control what your kids watch over TV? And by the way, do you think Tom and Jerry is violent? I just love watching how one always wanting to beat up the other when I was young!
[…] Mom.Dad.Chat added an interesting post on Violence on TVHere’s a small excerpt … certainly witnessing how my young son is imitating those scenes he watches on TV. … In Hong Kong, one gets to watch all sorts of drama series during the prime times at night from those kung fu costume dramas to love stories…. […]
Our kids only get to watch kid’s programs on TV. We don’t watch TV in front of them at all — unless it’s a sporting game. There is too much awful stuff out there, even in some commercials (like previews for new movies, etc) that I just don’t want my innocent young girls seeing it at their young ages. I think monitoring kids’ TV viewing is very important. Even if they are at the age to understand that it’s just pretend. My 4 year old, for example, knows for the most part what is real and what is pretend, but even seeing something ‘pretend’ that is violent or scary would give her nightmares. I just don’t think it’s necessary for them to be exposed to such things when they’re so young.
Andrea’s last blog post..every girl’s dream
I believe you do need to keep an eye on what children watch on TV
I do believe that too much violence can be detrimental even in older kids
I do think Tom and Jerry are violent. Thankfully my boys dont watch them much
I think the younger generation are exposed to much more violence than when we were kids and if we arent careful they can begin to see it as a norm
mind you I am always surprised how fast My Little Man learns
I mean he plays shot them ups with his older brother already
and we ban toy guns in our house but that doesnt stop them they will use a stick or their hand instead
jen’s last blog post..Please Read
i do control the telly programs, some programs especially those have “blood” one i definitely not let my son watches it..
huisia’s last blog post..From eve till boxing day
I don’t really let my son watch tv yet (he’s 2) but I definitely plan on monitoring when he does start watching…
Don Mills Diva’s last blog post..Wonder who the car is for?
I try whenever possible to refrain my children from watching everything from Cartons Network. There is so much violent and foul language in that channel. I think Tom n Jerry is there too.
miche’s last blog post..Snake and Ladder
personally, i do not like tom n jerry and i also do not see the need of exposing my son to such meaningless cartoon.
the only few shows that i allow Kayton to watch now are the few usual popular children shows.
Barney - where kayton learns to dance and sing
Pocoyo - he loves Lula, the dog
Thomas the train - he loves train, all boys do yeah…
but i do watch the Animal planet with Kayton, even though he is so young now, at 22 months, he understands that the lion will chase that poor buffalo trapped in the mud and bite it to death. Because i am beside him while watching these shows, explaining to him the best i could about what’s happening…..about the weak being consume and the strong survive.
I control what my kids watch - definitely no vulgar language (4 letter words, etc), no fighting, no obscenity, etc. Anyway my gals will tell me they are scared when they see their daddy watching violent tv programs and i will tell hubby to switch channels.
Shireen’s last blog post..So Much Food
nowadays it’s hard to control our kids, if we cut down their show time, they will learn from others also..
A relative of mine whome I personally thinks is a control-freak-parent, does not allow her kids to watch any TV until they are old enough to understand things. Well, I do not really know how she justifies how much her children will understand the things they are going to watch on TV, but what she did is she will filter and choose those TV programmes for her children to watch. Since she’s a SAHM, she has lots of time to monitor her kids that way.
amidrin’s last blog post..Best memories of 2007
Nice new home!
(btw Tom and Jerry are fine! and funny!)
Kids do not differentiate between fantasy and reality well until they are about 5, therefore we do have to be careful of what they watch. We do not have cable or satellite so my kids only watch videos, but they do have older siblings, so not everything they see is really appropriate for toddler/preschoolers.
My eldest was frightened by Disney movies when he was 3 or so. So for the rest of the kids I waited to introduce most of them til they were 5. No Lion King or Sleeping Beauty for my 3 year olds! lol.
Kristen’s last blog post..Belated Merry Christmas
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love having new visitors that actually comment!!
We don’t watch “real” tv in front of our son. In fact, there are only a few show that we do watch. We watch a lot of sports…
We pretty much stick to the Disney Channel or Noggin…I think those are pretty safe.
I really like Tom & Jerry…I’m not sure how a small child interprets it, but I think it’s pretend…as long as you are teaching your child that it’s not ok to hurt another person, you’re ok. Let’s face it, they’re going to be exposed to things now or later, I’d rather be the one to teach him right from wrong.
Suzanne’s last blog post..Our Christmas Story
Many cartoons nowadays are not fit for young children because of some of the words used. I agree, a lot of cartoons that seem funny may not be advisable for young children because of the violent content. I always make it a point to monitor what my 4-yr old son is watching but sometimes there are cartoons that he insists on watching so I try to explain to him some scenes/parts to guide him.
Thanks for coming over my blog. I appreciate the comment.
Rach (Heart of Rachel)’s last blog post..Aloha Friday #12
If I know the movie is violent, I won’t allowed them to watch it at all….so, usually my TV, only cartoon channel being switch on whole day till they zzzzzz
First off I wanted to say thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment the other day! Second, I grew up watching Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes and I have never once felt the need to go after anyone with a frying pan or dropped an anvil on anyone’s head so I guess I’d have to say that even though the cartoons themselves could be called a violent, I didn’t become violent because of them. I think the affect (or is that effect? I never get that word right!) on a child of watching these sort of cartoons also depends on the rest of their upbringing.
The thing that bothers me the most is the language as there is no need for it whatsoever and I think a child is more like to repeat something heard versus doing something they saw done. Of course, I could be totally way off base on this one and I’m sure the child psychologists would run me out of town on a rail!
Linda @ Art We There Yet??’s last blog post..T’was The Day After Christmas
Do you live in Hong Kong?
I have opinions about TV, but my kids are older…my youngest is 9. We have cable and so I can control what my kids watch to a certain extent. There are so many channels to pick from and there are only a few channels they are allowed to watch…I’ve generally approved everything on them, but I think the real culprit is the commercials. At least here in America. Only HGTV, the Food Network, the History Channel, and Animal Planet are safe as far as commercials are concerned, IMO. Which means when they are watching those channels, I don’t have to be in the room with them and I don’t worry about them. Another thing that has really helped is getting a DVR so we can skip through the commercials. The kids don’t want to watch them anyway…they want to get on with the show, and the commercials interrupt that. But that’s my situation. It may be very different for you, and like I said, my kids are older. I’m trying to think back to when they were younger. I guess I never let them watch TV in the evening and my husband and I don’t watch shows they shouldn’t watch when they might be in the room or come into it. Again, the DVR helps there. We record what we want to watch so we never miss them, and can watch them when the kids are in bed. But on the flip side, I don’t think kids internalize violence as much as what people say, especially if you are telling them otherwise. You are the biggest influence in their lives. Like you said, you watched Tom and Jerry as a child and you don’t have a problem with hitting everyone who makes you angry over the head with a frying pan. (At least I think you don’t! :-)) They can tell it’s fiction…
It has been tough to police his tv habits, esp now that he is getting older. When I am home with him I normally let him watch Noggin or Disney which are pretty suited for his age. But he has visited his cousins and has seen Sponge Bob or Power Rangers which I think (thought) was too old for him. So far so good, it actually opened up conversation for us about what words are NOT okay to say. I know as he gets older this will only get tougher.
Everytime my daughters watch their fav cartoon with a bit violence or with love story board.I will tell them that’s only a movie and don’t follow what they did.Always try to remind them..those cartoon character are just pretending and not real.
sweetiepie’s last blog post..Would you leave a child alone at home!
I grew up watching Tom and Jerry and I think I’m a well rounded person. There are a lot of shows that I don’t allow my toddler to watch, but he mainly likes watching the pre-school cartoons on the station Treehouse.
Tammy’s last blog post..NEW YEARS EVE PLANS
I think we should control it, coz naturally kids like to try or imitate though we explain it to them and they understand it.
Playhouse disney channel is the only channel which I allow my 4 yo son to watch, however he will join his daddy to watch some other movies at times, and when it comes to the violence parts or others which are not suitable for kids, we will definitely switch it off or to other channel.
Martini’s last blog post..Dental Follow-Up Check-Up
I try to limit them to watch oni those educational cartoons (like Playhouse Disney) but how to stop them completely from being exposed to violent n scary scenes? Coz sometimes when we watch adult shows, they’re there with us.
slavemom’s last blog post..Impressive Service