Television, News, & Young Children
From Dr. Gayle Peterson's "Ask Dr. Gayle" Column
Printed in the Family Post: Back to School Issue 2007
Question: I am concerned that my
two children, ages 2 and 4, could be
frightened by what they hear in the
news, on radio or television. There is so
much reference to violence. How can I
protect my children from overload of
this kind?
Answer:
The concept of danger is not new to
young children. We teach our toddlers to
stay out of streets and keep their hands
away from the fire on the kitchen stove.
We even warn our children not to talk to
“strangers” from an early age. Our children
believe in their parents’ ability to keep
them safe. They look to us for answers as
well as protection.
But how can we explain senseless violence
and tragedy to our children when we
do not understand it ourselves? How do
we protect our children from a flood of
anxiety over the latest breaking news on
the radio or TV?
The good news is that parents are the
filters through which our children process
worldly experience. They will accept our
comfort and our direction.
It is inevitable that our children will hear
upsetting stories. But it is necessary to
shield young children from overwhelming
feelings of helplessness in the face of
adversity of any kind. Safeguard your
child from more bad news than they can
handle at one time.
1. DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF
WATCHING THE NEWS WITH YOUR
CHILD PRESENT.
Just as you would not allow your young
child to watch a show depicting rape and
murder, do not expose them to nightly
news reports of violence. Turn your
television off! Young children do not have
the filters that adults have developed. They
are defenseless to the assault on the senses
that realistic violence presents, whether
fact or fiction.
2. CONSIDER LIMITING TELEVISION
VIEWING TIME AND RESTRICTING
VIOLENT OR OTHERWISE
INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT.
Know what shows your child watches each
day and make a point to view and discuss
these programs together!
3. DO NOT OVER-USE EDUCATIONAL
TELEVISION FOR “BABYSITTING” YOUR
PRESCHOOLER.
Although educational programs can
benefit a child, they should not replace
the person-to-person interaction young
children need in order to develop socially,
intellectually and physically. In fact,
The American Academy of Pediatrics
has recently taken a “no TV” stance for
children under the age of two!
4. IF YOUR CHILD IS ExPOSED TO
AN UPSETTING NEWS STORY, DO
YOUR BEST TO ANSWER qUESTIONS
AS TRUTHFULLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT
WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DETAILS.
Monitor your child’s level of anxiety and
help them cope by ending the conversation
with stories and methods of successful
protection or problem solving. For
example, cases in which children have
escaped abductors because they yelled or
did not go with a stranger who offered
them candy or money, are also true stories!
Positive identification with a capable
authority figure helps to protect a young
child’s psyche from the fact of their very
real vulnerability. This is what wanting to
be the “fireman”, or “policeman” (or even
batman!) is all about. Aligning themselves
with powerful, effective authority figures
in a story with a positive outcome helps
them feel, if not invincible, at least safe.
Gayle Peterson, LCSW, PhD is in private
practice in Grass Valley. She works with
individuals and couples, and specializes in
marital, parenting, and family transitions,
including childbirth preparation and
postpartum adjustment. She is the author
of several books, and her articles on
family relationships appear in professional
journals and popular magazines. She has
been in private practice for 25 years. Her
free on-line family seminars and articles
are available through her website: www.
AskDrGayle.com. She is available for
appointments and or consultation in
Grass Valley at (530) 346-2534. |
