According to msn.com, the average school-aged child spends more than 27 hours per week in front of the television, playing video games and watching cartoons.
In addition to this rediculous amount of time children spend in front of the media, they are now being introduced to the use of the computer at progressively younger ages. Kindergarten students have a Computer Special in most elementary schools where they learn to use different programs ont he computer, pre-schools now have childsize computer with specialized keyboards with learning games on them, and more and more games are being sold in stores with CDs accompaning them to use on the computer. Television programs often include website addresses in their credits inviting children to play on games and look at different things online. More importantly children are being to use the website, youtube.com, to access video clips of shows that they either missed on television or simply to watch the same video their friends were talking about all day in school.
Do we need our children accessing the internet to find videos on youtube? Do they need more hours infront of media? Or is youtube helping our children become more cultured and worldly.
Youtube has supported this channel to reunite missing children with their families. Other videos teach Saftey, School Presention or Tallent shows are also often presented on youtube. Some teachers use the site to teach lessons such as this alphabet lesson.
There are many uses for youtube.com for children, but should they be spending even more time infront of the media?
This is a good article, young children should be up and playing not sitting in front of the TV or computer. It’s nice that their involved in technology at a young age but their are some things on the internet that young children don’t need to see. Media is one of the reasons for child obesity. Parents need to encourage their children to play and maybe use TV as a cool down period.