Impact of Movies on Children
As a small example for the impact of movies on children: Recently I noticed my friend’s daughter who is studying first standard (she is five years old) sitting lonely and writing a love letter. My friend and I have seen the words in that letter. We are shocked by the maturity of the words in that letter.
My friend could not say anything to her at that moment. She thought for a while about her daughter's school mates, surroundings and other things, and wondered how she could write a letter using such matured words. Later, my friend realized that the words she used were imitated from the movie they had seen about a week ago.
Among all media, movies and television play a major role in impacting the thinking pattern of children. The question is whether the influence is positive or negative.
Children watching too much of movies and TV during their growing can affect their mental development, health, conversation with adults and their interaction with other children. Children get very much attracted to the roles that involve interesting characters. They try to imitate such roles. When we have 'heroic' characters that are full of mean jokes, deception of drinking and violence; there is no exaggeration in saying that the child is not secure in such environment.
Although many movie producers make good movies without violence, many people don't embrace such type of movies. Adults should decrease promoting violent movies and programs. We can see a change in trend from old to new movies. Most of the old films are taken with a good theme.
Many T.V channels play vital role in exposing a child to unwelcoming ideas like how a criminal attempted to murder, how a victim attempted suicide, how to hit a person in a cruel way or how to accomplish things using violent ways.
Thought it is not a good idea to blame on media that they are producing murderers or teen-shooters in schools, if a child decides to go in that direction, media is helping them by teaching how to do it.
This type of entertainment discourages positive activities like reading. Reading develops concentration, thinking, and we know that reading helps to grow us mentally. Children growing up in families where the talk of movies and TV is going on always or most of the time, spend less time reading, show less interest in spending time with family members and are less likely to be able to read.
On the other side, if the media is good, it can have very positive influence on a child's growth. If any bad situations like incidents of horror or graphical happens in a movie/TV, explain them about it. Try to answer their questions in a positive way. Choose the TV programs which are educational. Choose a healthy movie when watching along with them. Focus on movies where there are real heroes; heroes who protect our country, heroes who serve the people, heroes who are ambitious and humorous. Keep a time limit on how long children can watch TV. Encourage children to play games and read good books instead of allowing them to spend all of their time on TV.
 Prasanthi C | |
| About the author: | |
| Prasanthi completed her graduation in Chennai. She likes photography (especially photo
editing on flowers), collecting jokes and quotes, experimenting on cooking new recipes. She loves to spend quality time with her family. Her favorite quote is 'Helping hands are better than praying lips'- Mother Theresa. | |
| Read More >> | |
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