A grandma speaks

This an article which I had posted for Parentous.com in the month of  May 2013

This is a scene from the sitting room of a  nuclear family.

The mother enters the room. Rahul , her three year old son is watching TV, which is tuned on  full volume.

Mother: “Rahul Sunny get up. Come and take bath.”

Rahul: Mamma please. I will close the TV in five minutes.”

Mother comes again after fifteen minutes.

Mother,” Rahul you are still here watching TV. I am switching it off.” The TV is switched off.  Now starts the pandemonium. Rahul starts throwing tantrums, shrieking loudly, goes out of control and starts hitting his Mother.  The Lady seems to have no other option; again the TV is switched on. Within seconds, the child goes and sits in front of the “idiot box”, as if nothing has happened. I was a witness to this episode.

I have observed that over the years parental control has considerably decreased. The only reason, which I feel is that there are smaller families with only one or two children, who tend to be the ‘darlings’ of   their Mom and Dad.  Whatever may be the reason, every parent wishes a happy and successful future for the child.

 Sitting in front of the television during the major part of the day affects the mental as well as the physical growth of the child. Many children aged two or three years old keep watching   cartoons to which they become addicted.  I have seen children who do not even understand the language enjoying   every minute of such cartoons. In many houses TV   is always on full volume. It is of utmost importance that the parents fix a time for viewing TV or even playing video games. The children must have physical and mental exercises. Through outdoor activities the children develop better reflexes, learn the basics of give and take, cooperating with others. Excessive use of TV and computers is taking away the joys that we, as children, experienced because these gizmos were not there to divert us.

Outdoor activity provides children opportunities to scrutinize, experiment, discover, shout, sing, dance with joy, fight and reunite with friends of their own age group. Swami Vivekananda, a renowned saint, philosopher and a spiritual leader of India, whose 150^th birth anniversary was celebrated recently, rightly and wisely observed that leaders are made on the play fields rather than in class rooms.

 Children who are encouraged to play instead of watching TV or Computers are healthier, develop self esteem and a spirit of comraderie. Medical and health research   personals have   emphatically advocated that to avoid life style induced diseases, it is necessary that right from child hood the children must be exposed to outdoor activities. It is essential not  to have a sedantry life style right from a very young age. Of late   a new trend has been noticed. While sitting in front of TV or internet, children keep munching fast food, which is readily available everywhere and delivered at home. This uncontrolled eating of undesirable food leads to obesity in children. This life style is a matter of concern for health researchers. According to a survey conducted in metropolitan cities the   percentage of obesity in children has considerably increased. I quote below an extract  from The Times of India  dated March15,2013 an article titled  ‘Too much Tv can give your kid cancer’------- the increasing hours of watching TV, playing computer games or surfing the internet could put them at a much higher risk of getting cancer in adult life, experts have warned . Doctors fear that long spells of inactivity while glued to a screen may lead to childhood obesity and the associated health dangers, and now they are calling on parents to restrict the amount of time kids watch telly……..’

 Another serious   effect   of indulging in TV by continuing to sit in the position or lie down to watch TV affects the posture of the children. A  Physiotherapist   friend told me the other day that a large  number  of  young  children visit  Hospitals  for treatment of  spondylitis, which is caused by incorrect posture.

Some parents may say there is no open space near their residence. Generally in all group housing societies open space is available. The idea is that the children must be exposed to fresh air. They may take some exercises   which are essential for the nourishment for the body and   the mind.  An old adage ‘all work and no play makes  Jack a dull boy’ is correct for all times. However if there is no open space  the  child must not be  allowed to sit   in front of TV for long hours. Several indoor games are there  in the market. The aim should be that the child has some   diversion to  enable  him/her  to develop his/her   faculties of the body, mind and soul.