Apart from being a source of entertainment, television has its infotainment quotient
too, especially for children. Surprised? Well, TV does benefit your child. Here's a case
for the idiot box.
The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set -
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.'
Roald Dahl, the famous children's author, must have hated the television for luring
away children from the bookcase when he penned these lines. And, poor J L Baird
must be turning in his grave, on his invention being labeled 'idiotic'.
There are always two sides to a coin - the head and the tail.
Probably Roald Dahl saw only the tail side, as was the case of
the blind men and the elephant.
Well, let me try arguing the case for Baird.
It is a universal belief that watching television makes mere
couch potatoes of children doing them more harm than good.
This may be true to a great extent. However, watching
television does have its benefits. Here are some of them -
Educational value
Television has great educational value. It can be used as a tool
for learning, both at home as well as in classrooms. With the
range of channels on offer, there is no dearth of educational
content. Science, geography, history, travel, wildlife, sports,
health, nutrition, agriculture - the list would be endless. All it
needs is a parent or teacher to carefully choose the right type
of content that is relevant to the child. The educational value
of television increases with its powerful visual effect. It
ensures that children's retention is better when they watch, let's
say, a documentary on wildlife, than when they pore over
similar content in a printed book.
Medium of Information
In this age of knowledge explosion, children need to keep
themselves updated on day-to-day happenings. There are a
number of news channels, advertisements and documentaries
which offer tons of information to children on a platter. Such
information connects children with the entire world and
ensures they stay in touch with what is happening all around
them.
Social, civic, and cultural awareness
Watching a variety of television programs makes children
aware of the society they live in and the prevalent standards
and norms. Television educates children about various
cultures and customs. It also ensures that children possess
civic sense with an awareness of their duties as citizens.
Exposure to different languages
As there are channels telecasting programs in different
languages, children are initiated into becoming polyglots.
Research proves that exposure is essential for any language to
be learned. When we speak of exposure, it is 'listening' that we
emphasize. There are cases of individuals learning a language
without any actual 'listening' taking place. They end up being
able to read and write, but with very poor speaking skills in
that language. This is where the television is a real boon. It
provides a much-needed listening environment for children for
learning different languages.
Opportunity for travel
How many parents can afford to take time off from work to
travel to far-off places with their families? Well, television
transcends space and time. From the comforts of the living
room, you are able to trot to all corners of the globe - from icy
Greenland to the Kalahari Desert. What a wonderful
opportunity!
Logical and analytical thinking
Discussions are inevitable while watching television
programs, especially news items, documentaries, and chat
shows. Children get the opportunity to react to what they see
depicted on television. They learn to reason out and apply
logic while voicing their opinions on what they view. Even
films trigger such conversations at home. Specific scenes,
responses of characters to situations, the director's handling of
the plot, the way the plot culminates - all give ample scope for
healthy discussions at home.
Source of inspiration
With even corporate gurus highlighting the power of
influence, programs on interviews of individuals who have
achieved excellence in their respective fields influence
children positively. It motivates them to perform better and set
targets for themselves.
Bonding with family
What better way to unwind at the end of the day, as a family,
than relaxing before the television. It is one activity that the
family can engage in together, thus strengthening their bond.
Lest I am accused of being biased, I must agree that television
can have harmful effects too, especially when it becomes
addictive.
However, we must agree that if put to judicious use, especially
in the choice of programs and the amount of time spent on
viewing television, children and even adults can learn from
this entertaining and informative medium.
The tube, the telly, or the more common TV - call it by any
name other than idiot box. It does have a high IQ
(Infotainment Quotient) for it does combine Information and
Entertainment.
Just bear in mind that the great Thomas Alva Edison was
labeled 'addled' by his teacher. His mother pulled him out of
school and home-tutored him. He went on to become a great
genius.
Today, with so much information loaded in it, the television is
a perfect home-tutor. Isn't it high time we rechristened it?
