TV Is Beneficial for Children (My Fourth Essay)
I tried to write an argumentative essay titled "TV Is Beneficial for Children" in which I refuted the following arguments: (1) TV is a passive medium. Children will become listless couch potatoes; (2) TV stumps the healthy growth of the brain; (3) TV shorten Children's attention span; (4) If children watch TV, they will become poor students; (5) If children watch TV, they won't become good readers. TV and books are enemies; and (6) If children watch TV shows that entertain as well as educate, they will expect their teachers to sing and dance. TV Is Beneficial for Children There are many people who worry about TV's harmful influences on children, but I'm against them.First, TV is an active medium for children, especially in early childhood. For example, they are willing to imitate friendly characters on TV programs for children. Thus they learn not only a large number of songs and dances but also basic good habits, such as brushing their teeth, changing their pajamas and so forth.Second, TV-viewing stimulates children's brains and helps their healthy growth by giving them multiple varieties of audio-visual information. TV's vivid images cannot help provoking their curiosity, which helps them understand new things a great deal.In addition, contrary to the popular belief that watching TV shortens children's attention span, the attractive aspects of good educational children's programs help them learn to keep their concentration longer than in engaging in other activities. Thus, children gain wide knowledge from TV. Moreover, with parents' proper suggestions and guidance, they can develop their intellect or critical faculties. For example, comparing a piece of news with others, reporting the same topic, they can realize that any information on TV is chosen based on a certain point of view. These capabilities not just help them with their studies at school, but also they are indispensable to children who are expected to grow up to be concerned citizens in a democracy. What is better, with parents' proper guidance, watching interesting programs adapted for TV should prompt children to read the original books or related ones. As for my family, we often talk about which each of us prefers a TV adaptation or the original book. Our conversation sometimes expands to how we would like to adapt the stories if we were directors. TV and books aren't enemies but great friends. Although I have so far focused on the educational aspects of TV, I also appreciate TV as an entertainment. Recreation plays an important part in our daily life. Children enjoy varieties of TV shows. However, children who watch TV are wise enough to recognize teachers' role as educators. They can't be so stupid as to expect their teachers to sing and dance like entertainers.To sum up my arguments, TV is one of the most useful tools to develop children's ability. Why don't you think about the efficient ways of children's TV watching instead of blaming problems on it? I'm sure you will find TV beneficial for children.