Television viewing has become part of
modern everyday life. Everyone has
at least one TV set in their home. As
a result, people question what kind
of effect television programming has
on youth. Opponents cite numerous
disadvantages, while advocates list
various benefits.
Those who question the value of
television argue that watching TV is
primarily a passive activity. Children
are neither physically nor mentally
active. A lack of physical exercise can
trigger conditions such as obesity,
and inadequate mental stimulation
can lead to a lack of creativity and
imagination. Second, those against
television for children note that a large
number of programs are inappropriate.
The advertisements alone promote a
consumerist and materialistic attitude.
Furthermore, the gratuitous violence in
many shows, including even Saturday
cartoons, may encourage this same
type of behavior in young people.
On the other hand, advocates of
television viewing for children submit
the medium offers both education
and entertainment. For example, there
are many documentaries that provide
excellent learn~ng opportunities. In
addition, young people studying a
new language can pick up a lot of new
vocabulary and idioms from virtually
any type of show. Television is also a
valid form of entertainment. Families
can enjoy quality time together while
sharing laughs over a typical situation
comedy. Furthermore, parents who
need a break for an hour can entertain
their kids by sitting them down in front
of the tube. Finally, parents can use
television as a reward, for instance,
after the children have completed their
homework assignments.
In weighing the pros and cons of TV
for children, I believe that limited and
monitored television viewing for children
Chapter 1 Family
2. Reason 2
• support __ is appropriate. Parents should decide on
the suitability of specific programs and
restrict the total number of hours per day.
This will prevent negative outcomes such
as passivity, materialism, and aggression.
Selective viewing, however, especially if
it is educational or entertaining for either
the child or the entire family, may prove
entirely worthwhile. 
 Television
  viewing
 has become part of
modern everyday life. Everyone has
at least one TV set in their home. As
a result,  
people
 question what kind
of effect  
television
 programming has
on youth. Opponents cite numerous
disadvantages, while advocates list
various benefits.
Those who question the value of
television argue that watching TV is 
primarily
 a passive activity. Children
are neither  
physically
 nor mentally
active. A lack of physical exercise can
trigger conditions such as obesity,
and inadequate mental stimulation
can lead to a lack of creativity and
imagination. Second, those against
television for  
children
 note that  
a large
number of
 programs are inappropriate.
The advertisements alone promote a
consumerist and materialistic attitude. 
Furthermore
, the gratuitous violence in 
many
  shows
, including even Saturday
cartoons, may encourage this same
type of behavior in young  
people
. 
On the other hand
, advocates of
television  
viewing
 for  
children
 submit
the medium offers both education
and entertainment.  
For example
, there
are  
many
 documentaries that provide
excellent  
learn~ng
 opportunities. In
addition, young  
people
 studying a
new language can pick up  
a lot of
 new
vocabulary and idioms from  
virtually
any type of  
show
.  
Television
 is  
also
 a
valid form of entertainment. Families
can enjoy quality time together while
sharing laughs over a typical situation
comedy.  
Furthermore
, parents who
need a break for an hour can entertain
their kids by sitting them down in front
of the tube.  
Finally
, parents can  
use
television as a reward,  
for instance
,
after the  
children
 have completed their
homework assignments.
In weighing the pros and cons of TV
for  
children
, I believe that limited and
monitored  
television
  viewing
 for children
Chapter 1 Family
2. Reason 2
• support __ is appropriate. Parents should decide on
the suitability of specific programs and
restrict the total number of hours per day.
This will  
prevent
  negative
 outcomes such
as passivity, materialism, and aggression.
Selective  
viewing
,  
however
,  
especially
 if
it is educational or entertaining for either
the child or the entire family, may prove 
entirely
 worthwhile.