Video-Based Educational Materials and the Development of Your Child
For youngsters, there is a lot to be said about the amount of time they should spend watching television. The frequent reminder that our children should not watch television is a source of frustration for us as parents. The dangers of attention deficit disorder, general disobedience, and a host of other awful repercussions are always being spoken about. Despite the fact that I do not fully disagree, I feel that this subject has to be examined in more depth.
I am the mother of a two-year-old boy. I give him permission to view certain television programmes and/or videos. Does the television serve as a substitute for my presence, or do I use some other method of substituting for my absence? Never. This is why I chose these programs with care, making certain that the content they display is consistent with the lessons I want my kid to learn. As a reinforcement for the skills and teachings I am currently teaching him, I utilize television programs to reinforce those concepts. I also watch his videos with him to assist him in clarifying or repeating terms when required. Allow me to provide you with an example.
Since my kid gained the dexterity to be able to point to the various parts of his body, my husband and I have been practicing the phrases that correlate to those points on his body so that he can learn them. These are the words that we repeat again and over and over. Similarly, we utilize children's books to spread these similar concepts. Add in a couple of videos of children singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," and you've got a youngster who understands how to put all of these visuals and phrases together in his or her head. I am not claiming that seeing the movie was the most important factor in my kid's learning these phrases. Children, like adults, learn in a variety of different ways, as I've said above. Why not expose them to the world around them via a variety of different sorts of media and activities? It is my belief that a mix of reading materials (books), pretend play, music, and the appropriate television shows may aid youngsters in learning more than one of these routes on its own.
I also think that children learn by seeing and imitating their peers. If you still don't believe me, spend a few hours one day at your local preschool and simply watch what goes on. You'd be surprised at how often children (and particularly toddlers) copy one another. In my son's instance, he is still an only kid at this point in time. I make every effort to encourage him to participate in playgroups, tumbling classes, and any other socializing activities that I can arrange. When he is in the company of other children, I see an increased desire on his part to want to speak with the other children - maybe even more than his desire to want to interact with me! Although this is the case, he still prefers to spend the bulk of his time alone rather than with other youngsters. The kids and I have a collection of children's DVDs (and watch specific television shows) that feature youngsters their age or somewhat older. He is able to see how these youngsters engage with one another, talk with one another, dance, sing, and even demonstrate their excellent manners. The social skills that my kid has developed at home and at play have been strengthened as a result of participating in these sessions.
This debate is not about whether television, in and of itself, is harmful and should be kept as far away from children as possible; rather, it is about how to frame the debate. Ultimately, it comes down to what children are watching, how the programs contribute to their overall learning curriculum (are they the only source or are they a supplement to many other resources?), and the importance of the child's caregiver being present to interact with them while they are watching the program. I actively participate in watching television shows with my child so that we can both learn and have fun together.
Even while I recognize that everyone has their own opinions on viewing television and that I am by no means an expert, this has worked in my family, and I hope that by sharing my experience, you may be able to get a little bit from it as well. Best of luck in your parenting endeavors!