Watching TV does not make a person smarter
When it comes to the topic of if television makes a person smarter, most of us will readily agree it is used for entertainment purposes only. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of it depends on what is watched. Whereas some are convinced it actually does make one smarter, others maintain it definitely does not make a person smarter. When I was a child I do not remember watching a whole lot of television. I can remember watching Saturday morning cartoon, which included Tom and Jerry and Looney tunes. Now there are television shows such as Sponge Bob, Clarence, and Uncle Bob. These new shows kill my brain cells when I try to watch them with my children. When I was a kid I remember playing outside in the dirt trying to find Rollie Polllies and running around with my friends playing hide and seek. My children on the other hand could watch television all day long if I let them. Some of the shows they watch are the most ridiculous cartoons ever. Watching television does not make a person smarter due to the context being shown, amount of wasted time, and how it causes obesity. This goes especially for a child whose brain is absorbing everything they hear and see.
The context of some shows are way worse now than when I was a child. For example, when I was younger and I used to watch Tom and Jerry and I don’t remember Tom and Jerry having any type of influence on me. When two year old watches Tom and Jerry smoking and hitting each other and he is cracking up and hitting his nine year old sister, it concerns me a little. I know I cannot always monitor what my children watch, I learned this lesson the hard way. One weekend my eleven year old son went to his friend’s house and his friends’ parents were watching movies in the living room with the kids. One of the movies they had watched the night he was there was “Sex Tape” and needless to say, my son came back talking about “ juicing peoples gooses” and I had no idea what it meant until I asked him, all I knew is what it sounded like to me (which wasn’t kid friendly). Afterwards, I had to have “the talk” with him so he wouldn’t go around saying this at school or church. As Johnson says “The real world doesn't come in nicely packaged public- service announcement" (Steven Johnson) which is very true, but I also know it is up to me to instill right and wrong within my children.
I am guilty of watching too much television. I watch TV for entertainment purposes, it relaxes me and helps me wind down especially after a long stressful day. The amount of time I waste on watching it is ridiculous, I have to admit. I can be doing so many different activities with my time like working out, cleaning, organizing my house, or spending more time on hobbies. According to the AAP children spend about six hours a day watching TV or playing video games, which is a lot of screen time. I try to encourage my children to play outside more like I did when I was a child. When my kids get to watching television they tune out anything and everything. I could be yelling there is a fire in the house and they still wouldn’t budge. They very much get sucked into the television, so they don’t get anything done. I try to limit their TV to after they get home for a little bit and when they are getting ready for bed. As long as they are not watching the shows that kill their brain cells. The amount of time one watches television they cannot get back. Even though I indulge in watching television, I know it will not be making me smarter my no means.
Daphne Miller M.D says “Over the past several decades a number of studies have shown there are several ways television can be harmful to the mental and physical health of children.” Time children could use to play outside and get exercise and fresh air should never be replaced for staying inside and watching television. When I was younger I loved to read books and magazines. Now getting my kids to read is like pulling teeth. An article on Kidshealth.org even says “While watching TV, kids are inactive and tend to snack. They're also bombarded with ads that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips and empty-calorie soft drinks that often become preferred snack foods.” When my children sit and watch television they feel the need to want to eat chips, since it is the only junk food I really keep in the house. I notice if they are playing outside they rarely come inside to get food but when they do it is an orange or a string cheese. “The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week” this is for an adult and for a child, they need at least 60 minute of physical activity.
People are going to have their differences on this topic and it is fine. Some think they will be smarter watching the History Channel or The Smithsonian Channel. Watching those shows can cause one to gain some knowledge on certain subjects but make one smarter? No. Reading can do the same for a person as well as exercising ones brain, which seems better than watching television. When my children watch the educational show, they watch for a few minutes and show no interest in them. I would never consider these shows making my children smarter. For me and my family, it stands I will continue to keep encouraging my children to play outside instead of watching TV and when they do watch television, I will have to trust I do a good job in teaching them right from wrong and they will not let television encourage them to make wrong decisions.
When it comes to the topic of if television makes a person smarter, most of us will readily agree it is used for entertainment purposes only. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of it depends on what is watched. Whereas some are convinced it actually does make one smarter, others maintain it definitely does not make a person smarter. When I was a child I do not remember watching a whole lot of television. I can remember watching Saturday morning cartoon, which included Tom and Jerry and Looney tunes. Now there are television shows such as Sponge Bob, Clarence, and Uncle Bob. These new shows kill my brain cells when I try to watch them with my children. When I was a kid I remember playing outside in the dirt trying to find Rollie Polllies and running around with my friends playing hide and seek. My children on the other hand could watch television all day long if I let them. Some of the shows they watch are the most ridiculous cartoons ever. Watching television does not make a person smarter due to the context being shown, amount of wasted time, and how it causes obesity. This goes especially for a child whose brain is absorbing everything they hear and see.
The context of some shows are way worse now than when I was a child. For example, when I was younger and I used to watch Tom and Jerry and I don’t remember Tom and Jerry having any type of influence on me. When two year old watches Tom and Jerry smoking and hitting each other and he is cracking up and hitting his nine year old sister, it concerns me a little. I know I cannot always monitor what my children watch, I learned this lesson the hard way. One weekend my eleven year old son went to his friend’s house and his friends’ parents were watching movies in the living room with the kids. One of the movies they had watched the night he was there was “Sex Tape” and needless to say, my son came back talking about “ juicing peoples gooses” and I had no idea what it meant until I asked him, all I knew is what it sounded like to me (which wasn’t kid friendly). Afterwards, I had to have “the talk” with him so he wouldn’t go around saying this at school or church. As Johnson says “The real world doesn't come in nicely packaged public- service announcement" (Steven Johnson) which is very true, but I also know it is up to me to instill right and wrong within my children.
I am guilty of watching too much television. I watch TV for entertainment purposes, it relaxes me and helps me wind down especially after a long stressful day. The amount of time I waste on watching it is ridiculous, I have to admit. I can be doing so many different activities with my time like working out, cleaning, organizing my house, or spending more time on hobbies. According to the AAP children spend about six hours a day watching TV or playing video games, which is a lot of screen time. I try to encourage my children to play outside more like I did when I was a child. When my kids get to watching television they tune out anything and everything. I could be yelling there is a fire in the house and they still wouldn’t budge. They very much get sucked into the television, so they don’t get anything done. I try to limit their TV to after they get home for a little bit and when they are getting ready for bed. As long as they are not watching the shows that kill their brain cells. The amount of time one watches television they cannot get back. Even though I indulge in watching television, I know it will not be making me smarter my no means.
Daphne Miller M.D says “Over the past several decades a number of studies have shown there are several ways television can be harmful to the mental and physical health of children.” Time children could use to play outside and get exercise and fresh air should never be replaced for staying inside and watching television. When I was younger I loved to read books and magazines. Now getting my kids to read is like pulling teeth. An article on Kidshealth.org even says “While watching TV, kids are inactive and tend to snack. They're also bombarded with ads that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips and empty-calorie soft drinks that often become preferred snack foods.” When my children sit and watch television they feel the need to want to eat chips, since it is the only junk food I really keep in the house. I notice if they are playing outside they rarely come inside to get food but when they do it is an orange or a string cheese. “The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week” this is for an adult and for a child, they need at least 60 minute of physical activity.
People are going to have their differences on this topic and it is fine. Some think they will be smarter watching the History Channel or The Smithsonian Channel. Watching those shows can cause one to gain some knowledge on certain subjects but make one smarter? No. Reading can do the same for a person as well as exercising ones brain, which seems better than watching television. When my children watch the educational show, they watch for a few minutes and show no interest in them. I would never consider these shows making my children smarter. For me and my family, it stands I will continue to keep encouraging my children to play outside instead of watching TV and when they do watch television, I will have to trust I do a good job in teaching them right from wrong and they will not let television encourage them to make wrong decisions.