There has been an increasing concern that language abilities and development in children in the past one decade has declined due to the negative effects of increased exposure to television. In the modern families, television is an epicenter, which is a result of the changes that have taken place in the western culture. In addition, it has become common for a household to have more than one television set hence children watch television from their bedrooms. Children programs have increasingly become common most societies with producers of children programs developing more educational and competitive products (Gliebe, 2011). Therefore, one cannot ignore the relationship between television and language development in young children.
Language development is critical from birth to the age of five, and the factors affecting language development include the content and quantity of television programs. The television programs are beneficial to children language development. However, excessive watching of television by children can have an adverse effect on their language development. Therefore, parents and caregivers should determine the quantity of television that facilitates maximization of benefits while minimizing the negative effects. This paper seeks to establish the relationship between children language development and exposure to television (Ruangdaraganon, et al, 2009). Additionally, this paper will seek to establish a balance that can facilitate beneficial adoption of television while mitigating the negative effects.
The relationship between children language development and general brain development has been of much interest from various researchers, academicians and interested groups in the recent past. Speech and language pathologists have also been participating in this research with the intent of establishing the effects of video programs on language development in children. Television has been attributed to boosting children language development while some studies refute such finding stating that videos inhibit children’s language development (Close, 2004). This is worsened when a child has lower language skills.
The development of language in most culture is dependent on the interactions of a child with the mother verbally, nonverbal such as smiles, touch among other means. In addition, the interactions of a child with others through plays also play an imperative role in in pre-linguistic skills development. A child is able to learn essential linguistic skills such as turn-taking, motor imitation, eye contact and sound imitation among others. These skills are essential in aiding language development in children. For example, by the time children begin to utter their first words they are already enriched with vocabularies (Bukatko & Daehler, 2011). Therefore, from a language development perspective excessive exposure of a child to the television can have detrimental effects to such a child language development.
Effect of Television on Children Speech Development
Numerous studies have been done with the aim of establishing the effect of television on children development. This has led to an intensified debate whether children language development is impaired by television. However, it has been noted that when watching television, parent and children virtually stop talking to each other even though they are in the same room. For example, a research found that a normal adult usually speaks 941 words in an hour. However, an hour in front of television reduced the number of words with 770 words (Szabo, 2009). As a result, a child vocalized less as some parents also sat a child in front of a television and left them. The Majority of parents do not realize the reduction of interactions with their children when watching television. Even when a parent is playing with a child, when the television is on, in the background, the interactions and communication between them is much limited.
Some studies have established that much of language development, in a child is influenced from hearing the language spoken. Therefore, a child who spends much of his/her time in the television usually knows fewer words as compared to their peers. In addition, constant exposure of children to television leads to less time devoted to books and reading as compared to other children. In addition, children between the age of one to three years attention and span of play are reduced when a television is playing in the background (Page & Evra, 2007). Excessive exposure of children to television leads to poor development of verbal skills hence inhibiting children speech skills.
Children who spend much of their time in front of television develop difficulties in communication due to lack of sufficient time in speaking practice. In some cases, the children are unable to link words together and understanding of simple instructions become difficult for such children. Historically, children were told bedtime stories when sleeping and consistently communicated with their parents during dinner and other activities. However, with the development of technology and changes in the western cultures children spend most of their time playing video games and watching television.
Research has shown that there are various activities, which promote children’s language, and speech development. For example, singing nursery hymns, looking at photo albums, reminiscing and sharing of books promote language development hence enhancing speech. Therefore, when children are left alone in front of a television, they are negatively affected since they miss out on language development practices. Children interactions with their parents and peers during plays have also been associated with improved comprehension (Szabo, 2009). For example, children are involved through listening, planning and negotiating with each other improving their communication skills. These practices are essential for children as they enable the children not only to gain language skills, but also learn how to treat each other and accept defeat.
Benefits of Television on Children Language Development
Although numerous studies have established the negative effects of television on children language development, children also benefit to some extent through watching television. Most researches have focused on the negative side of television viewing for children ignoring he positive benefits. It has been attributed with bringing children with real aspects of life providing a valuable tool, which keeps children occupied. Television provides an essential educational tool informing and inspiring children through various educational programs (Park, 2009). Some people have branded television as a one eyed monster exerting bad influence on children.
However, before branding and associating television with these negative aspects, one needs to recognize that it’s a channel that provides entertainment and drama. In addition, television consumption in the current period also takes place in a complicated media environment. There has been an increase in the number of education programs being aired in television improving learning in children. In addition, television presents an opportunity and platform where the popular culture is promoted, and children are able to learn the skills of the popular culture (Gliebe, 2011). Educational and informative programs teach children how to behave, feel and respond.
Children program producers have also developed programs promoting readiness for school through equipping children with academic skills. In addition, television has been associated with improved knowledge of vocabulary from educational programs meant for children. However, research on the benefits of television on children has been limited hence limited information on the benefits of television to children language development. During the language acquisition stage between the age of 2 years and 7 years, television facilitates the development of representational skills. Some researchers have also hypothesized that children develop their grammar, phonological awareness and literacy from educational programs (Bukatko & Daehler, 2011). However, this study has not been conclusive done as most of the researchers focus on the negative part of the television effects.
Parents can improve the outcome of television viewing by their children through monitory of what the children are viewing. Parents should also avoid placing television sets in children bedrooms since they will not be able to monitor the quantity and contents being viewed by their children. In addition, children should interact and talk with their children before the start of a program and when the program ends. Parents should avoid leaving their children alone to watch television since they may not have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the contents of the programs (Park, 2009). When engaged with other activities with the children, parents should ensure that television is not on in the background as it affects the ability of the child to listen and talk.
However, although television has numerous benefits to children language development, it should not be used as a substitute for human interactions. Human interactions are the most essential factors influencing language development in children and parents should engage their children in such activities. Implementation of health television habits should be ensured from an early age of a child. This is because unhealthy habits have the effect of impairing language and speech development in children.
Effect of Television on Expressive and Grammar Development
Expressive language is the ability to communicate and speak effectively through the use of both verbal and non-verbal tools of communication such as gestures. The ability of a child to learn expressive language at an early age has been associated with improved comprehension and literacy learning. There are limited information and data regarding the relationship between television and expressive and grammatical development of children. This has been due to inconsideration by researchers and other interested parties. However, according to various studies television has been found to improve children’s talk. For example, it has been observed that children make verbal responses to television especially between the age of two and half years to five years. This promotes expressive vocabulary development enhancing children communication skills.
For example, Disney movies compose dialogues, which facilitate language modeling and extensive development of vocabularies. However, studies have shown that the effectiveness of television in promoting expressive language development is inversely related to quantity of television. The quality of content being viewed by children also immensely affects the relationship between television viewing and expressive language development. Excessive exposure of children to television affects their confidence and their ability to develop their speech through social interactions (Johnson, 2008). This can lead to potential speech disorders for the child since such children lack basic communication skills.
Grammar development is an essential skill in written and spoken language, which evolves through hearing and speaking. However, the input of television to children grammar development is less as compared to vocabulary. This has been associated to an inability of children to participate and interact with the television. Grammar development takes place in a long period of time and television takes place within a short period. According to research, natural language influences through social interactions are more important in grammar development as compared to television. However, lack of studies evaluating evidence of the presence of grammatical knowledge in television is a factor that creates absence of evidence.
Natural Interactions versus Television and Language Development
Researches in support of television programs for language development, as well as those demonstrating negative effects of television, conclusively merge in the idea that social interactions should not be substituted with television. One- on-one talks and back-and-forth interactions and conversations between children and adults have far-fetched benefits on children language development (Park, 2009). Research shows that the more children are involved in talks and conversation with the adults language skills developed quickly.
Although television also contributes to children language development, it has various shortcomings as it depends on the quality of content and the quantity of television watched. Therefore, research conclusively demonstrates that social interactions between children and parents should not be substituted with television for language development. Excessive exposure of children to television has detrimental effects to children language development as a child can develop language development disorders. Scientifically, excessive television has been proven to affect children social, cognitive and language development (Close, 2004). These studies established that television inhibits the ability of a child to learn new words, talking and playing inhibiting interaction ability of a child.
Parents and caregivers should encourage social interactions, which will facilitate children's language development. For example, activities such as playing together with other children, as well as caregivers and parents facilitate speech and language development in children. Parents and care givers should also engage in storytelling, which facilitates improved creativity and attention among children. Excessive exposure of children to television has been attributed to cognitive development disorders. This is imperative in enhancing children speech and language development.
Conclusion
In the modern families, television is an epicenter and each household possesses even more than one television. Therefore, it is inevitable for children to watch television since it is a normal and part of family’s activity. The presence of television has had diverse effects to small children language development, researchers holding diverging views on the topic. Some hold that television plays an imperative role in children language development highlighting issues such as vocabulary development among others. Parents have also held the view that television plays an imperative role in keeping children engaged through various children educational programs. These programs have also been pointed out as helping pre-school children with skills in readiness for school.
However, the researchers pro and against the view that television has positive effects to children, have conclusively stated that the content and quantity of television, is a major determinant of the effect to children. They agree that excessive exposure of children to television has a detrimental effect to language development as well as cognitive development. In conclusion, parents and caregivers should actively regulate the exposure of children to television in terms of content and quality. This will facilitate achievement of balance that ensures minimization of negative effects and maximization of positive effects.
References
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