Media Influence on School Children in Britain Essay

Media Influence on School Children in Britain - Essay Example There are both negative and positive implications of media to children in our society today. Media offer academic learning opportunities to school children. Shows such as Teletubbies and Blue’s Clues among others have offered learning opportunities to pre-aged children over the past thirty years. Zoom, Zoboomafoo, and cyber chase programs are sated with edifying scientific facts to the youth. Educational programs have enabled children to highly adapt to the programs they are watching. For instance, Barney show, which teaches the English language, boosts the linguistic ability of those children who don’t understand the English language properly. On the other hand, programs such as National Geographical Channel explores the geographical features enabling a leaner to be conversant with his/her environment. Children are taught different types of animals and they are showing their real appearances. It makes it easier for such kids to visualize.Children have been able to lear n pro-social skills through media. â€Å"Children adapt to social skills like sharing, empathy, and self-calming by watching others do it â€Å", reports Klinker, an author (social and emotional development).Watching of T.V programs such as soap operas helps a child learn from adult hence enhancing the high level of social intelligence.Media has its negative effect on children as well. Children tend to pick up weird unethical behaviors from models presented in on TV screen e.g. eating disorders and body image.... For instance, Barney show, which teaches English language, boosts the linguistic ability of those children who don’t understand the English language properly. On the other hand, programs such as National Geographical Channel explores on the geographical features enabling a leaner to be conversant with his/her environment. Children are taught different types of animals and they are showed their real appearances (Palmer & Young, 2007, p.34). It makes it easier for such kids to visualize when discussed during class sessions. Children have been able to learn pro-social skills through media. â€Å"Children adapt to social skills like sharing, empathy and self-calming by watching others do it â€Å", reports Klinker, an author (social and emotional development).Watching of T.V programs such as soap operas helps a child learn from adult hence enhancing high level of social intelligence (Bryant & Zillmann, 2005 p.45). Media has its negative effect on children as well. Children tend pick up weird unethical behaviors from models presented in on TV screen e.g. eating disorders and body image (Liebert & Sprafkin, 1998 p.29). Magazines tend to portray girls who are skinny. As a result young girl put themselves on diet and at times they restrict themselves to eating in quest for a skinny sexy body. School girls caught up these trends as little as 7 years of age. In 2006, a national eating disorder treatment center indicated that 67% of school teachers complained of eating disorders in their classroom. The issues of modes of dressing and fashion trends have been major issues in the media where by individuals want to be kept updated. Children on the other hand have been on the receiving end. Parents have found it difficult to