Is the TV Guide Your Kid’s Best Friend?
By Sherry L Harris
Does your child’s after-school routine go something like television, dinner, television, sleep? If it does, you are not uncommon, but you may be hurting your child by letting this go on. Even in adults, watching television right before bed is a bad idea. It stimulates the brain and makes it more difficult to fall asleep. Better bedtime activities include reading and taking a bath.
Studies have shown that the average American spends about 25 hours a week in school and 25 hours a week watching television. This is due, in part, to the more demanding work lives of adults. In the past, parents had more time to spend with their children after school.
Now, when parents know they will be busy, they sometimes put a television in their child’s room to cure their boredom. There are many problems with this solution. One is that aside from boredom, the TV can become an escape from other negative feelings like pain, sadness and inadequacy. Also, it is important to consider where children are gaining information about the world. When you put a TV in their room and that is their constant companion, you never know what they are learning and taking to be true without your guidance.
Even as little as two hours of television per day can disrupt a child’s sleeping habits. One way that this presents itself is in children resisting going to bed. Let’s face it, you saying “one more show” then leaving isn’t going to stop them from continuing their tv viewing when you’ve gone to bed. Other sleep problems that can occur are daytime sleepiness, having trouble falling asleep, not sleeping as long and anxiety about sleep.
If you don’t think your child’s TV habits are that bad, you may want to consider this. When your child has come home from school and done his or her homework, what is the first thing they ask to do before dinner? If it is most commonly to go outside and play, you’re golden. If they usually ask to watch TV until dinner, this can be an issue.
In children and adults alike, exercise is a huge catalyst for sleep. The difference is that most adults have to plan to exercise, while children get it naturally during their playtime. If they are sitting in front of a television instead, this can lead to significant sleep problems.
When your child does watch TV, make it a family event. It can be great for family discussion and learning as well as a little entertainment.
Sherry Harris offers FREE information packed ebook, “101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia.” Get the solution to your sleeping problems right now at http://www.ScentToSleep.com
Get all the help you need to fall asleep fast, free sleep tips (that work!).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_L_Harris
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-the-TV-Guide-Your-Kids-Best-Friend?&id=1645857
Add A Comment