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Television Can Hurt or Help Children’s Development

Last Updated: September 14, 2009

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Parenting Tips for Your 43-44 Month Old Child

Many children watch some amount of television every day. What children learn from TV can either interfere with their growth or help their growth. Programs do not have to be “educational” to teach things we want children to know and things we do not want children to know.

How TV can hurt a child’s development:

  • Children believe what they see on the screen. They cannot always tell the difference between what is real and what is make-believe. This can confuse and mislead children.
  • Children have hurt themselves and other people by imitating what they have seen on TV.
  • Children who watch a lot of TV can become passive. Children need to do things to grow. When they spend a lot of time in front of the TV, children lose chances to be creative, use their minds and be physically active.
  • TV commercials cause children to want toys that may not be good for them and non-nutritious foods with lots of sugar and fat.

How TV can help a child’s development:

  • TV can be a window on the world. It can broaden children’s knowledge and interests by introducing them to:
  1. Things they have never seen.
  2. Places they have never been.
  3. People they have never met.
  4. Things they have never done.
  • TV can teach skills such as reading, counting, spelling and problem solving.
  • TV can teach children healthy attitudes toward themselves and other people.
  • Children can learn sharing, self-control and courage from TV.


Learn more about Your Child: 43-44 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.


Note to Parents: When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.
References: These materials were adapted by authors from Extension Just in Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

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