Changing the Channel

Television creates an imaginative world as an escape from reality. But how can shows influence who you become? We take a closer look into the psychological effects specific content has on children's brain and what we can do in order to become a "neighbor".

Collection of Childhood Shows

““Americans no longer talk to each other, they entertain each other. They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images. They do not argue with propositions; they argue with good looks, celebrities and commercials.” ― Neil Postman,

“What are you watching? Is that bikini bottom?” Until the age of ten, I was one of THOSE kids that was not allowed to watch what seemed like an innocent cartoon, Spongebob. My parents cringed at the thought of me watching a hyperactive yellow sponge run around town making krabby patties and causing trouble on the bottom of the pacific ocean floor. Instead, my childhood consisted of shows such as Dora, Sesame Street, and a whole lot of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. My parents made sure the shows that I watched were packed with teachings on morals and life lessons. Through these shows I learned important lessons such as how I would react if a mischievous fox stopped me in the middle of the road, obviously I would reply swiper no swiping. Versus shows that were made simply for entertainment and income purposes do not strengthen the learning charisma that will continue to grow with that child as they evolve into their teenage years, which will later transform into their adult years. When children are taught important lessons at a young age, it tends to become a habit, which may explain the reasoning behind my friends poor hygiene or as I have been informed, my lack of politeness at restaurants. In today's society especially we no longer are motivated to demonstrate principles of goodness and respect to others in our community. Every single child has experienced years within their youth that provided the learning development that is necessary to manifest success throughout their adulthood. Although many refuse to acknowledge this simple fact, the way we were raised plays a large role in developing our unique human behaviors. From the cartoons we watched as a child to the games we played, they all played a role in determining why we are who we are, as well as why many of us have different outlooks on life and moral goals. The entertainment that is provided to youth, plays a role in the determination of character growth. Connecting fast-paced television activity with the executive of the individual deficiency in certain functions of young kids as they get older, irrespective of whether they are temporary, has serious implications for the mental and social activity of children's development that needs to be taken into account and responded to. As these children will eventually evolve into becoming the leaders of our world and it is important for them to take on the mass responsibility of our destruction we all have caused. So, let’s take a look at our tv guide, airing first will be how television is affecting our youth, directly followed by a special feature that will bring us all back to our childhood.

Television Through a Child's Eyes

Allow us to change the channel and take a look at television activity and how it affects young children. Researchers have completed a study, where they found that four-year-olds who watched nine minutes of a quick-paced cartoon like SpongeBob Squarepants, demonstrated transient attention and learning difficulties. The study examined 60 children completely at random assigned to watch SpongeBob, along with slower- paced television shows, like the Caillou PBS cartoons, or to draw pictures as an influence. After nine minutes of the experiment, the kids were assigned to complete four tasks to activate their executive function — such as focus, problem-solving, and fulfillment delay— which helps people to set goals and execute them. Executive function is important to help children learn and work at school and to be innovative. “Just nine minutes of viewing a fast-paced television cartoon had immediate negative effects on the executive function of four-year-olds," concluded Angeline Lillard and Jennifer Peterson of the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia on Monday's issue of Pediatrics. In the fast-paced series, the settings moved from a swimming pool all the way to a bedroom, every 11 seconds on average, compared to every 34 seconds on average in the academic Television program, the analysts reported. As a result, children that watch fast paced programs daily, will struggle with learning and work ethic which includes their motivation on anything in life. Because children are exposed to this at such a young age they are more prone to grow into the type of person who may lack determination of responsibility and good management.

Blast from the Past

Let’s turn up the volume to acknowledge a television show that we are all familiar with that can enlighten young children’s knowledge that will benefit them throughout their entire life, is, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. The popular series that was aired on PBS took on the respectful responsibility to teach kids multiple morals and principles used in the real world. Mister Rogers was able to communicate with kids about grown up issues that have existed throughout decades in our society. This refers to his own response on equality of different races, informing kids on dealing with death and divorce, the challenges of disability, experiences with adoption along with the importance of acceptance. Mister Rogers often got side eyed by politicians that had disagreed with sending certain messages to children as if it should not be his decision on what he can and cannot teach young kids. This had resulted in the U.S. Senate Subcommittee considering the cancellation of the series due to budget cuts as well as the information that was shared without the show. Mister Rogers was given the opportunity to defend public television from being cut by the simple yet powerful words he recited to Senator O. Pastore whom had in fact never fully watch an entire program. Mister Rogers had proposed a piece of a song he wrote to the children with a strong message that can help manage emotions. “What do you do with the mad that you feel? When you feel so mad you could bite. When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong, and nothing you do seems very right. I can stop when I want to. Can stop when I wish. Can stop, stop, stop anytime ... And what a good feeling to feel like this! And know that the feeling is really mine. Know that there’s something deep inside that helps us become what we can. For a girl can be someday a lady, and a boy can be someday a man.” Senator Pastore was absolutely touched by the remarkable message that is being communicated to the young people in our society as he took Mister Rogers side on the case which resulted in more years of the television series being filmed and directed.

Be a Neighbor

In our final season the children that have grown into adults in our society are heedless to the direction that our world is facing as we are in denial of the gargantuan science catastrophes going on in our planet. It may seem unworthy to think that watching certain television programs can alter our human behavior and motivation; but, the importance of television shows is more impactful than it can seem to be due to the people we have been turned into in today's society as generations have demonstrated the phrase monkey see, monkey do. Most of us have even started to lack the responsibility to help the world itself. Humans now are incredibly oblivious to the frightful things we have caused to our own home. Because it is here. The horror and violence is here and we aren’t taking action to the call of help. The science is here. The destruction is here. Yet we call ourselves loyal citizens? While we stand back and watch the monstrosity happen and act like we have empathy. We applaud those who actually take action but we do not listen to what they say. Few have noticed that we listen to respond, not to understand. We do not take responsibility for our desensitization of the mass consequences we have caused. We continue to live our lives the way we always have. The way where we stand by and wait for others to be hero’s for us. There is a deeper message available to society that has been displayed as it is first identified in our childhood. From there and on our human behavior we have been molded into will continue to take away the morals we should be deemed to demonstrate. You do not have to be a neurologist to see how the lack of morality we see on our screens actually shows. Maybe instead of allowing your kids to get sucked into the world of bikini bottom, teach them how to be a neighbor.