Children love watching television and movies, but too much of it during developmental years can have a significant negative impact on them, experts say. Health providers and teachers across the country are reporting faltering academic abilities, attention problems and language difficulties with both reading comprehension and oral expression. Research suggests a strong link between many of the growing problems and excessive use of television, says Dr. Ellen Abell, a family and child development specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Children watch so much television today.
They also play video games, watch movies and use computers much more than children did a few years ago. As children do this, they tend to lessen other important activities that aid in development of reading, social and some types of thinking skills. Other concerns for children include that they maintain good eyesight and physical fitness. Some researchers believe this may be one explanation of the widespread problem of attention deficit disorder and some behavior problems. The visual nature of television or other media stimuli do not develop the part of the brain responsible for language.