What your children should not see before the age of five

Laila Ali

The mother was unaware that watching her three-year-old daughter's YouTube videos of young girls who celebrate the famous Disney princesses characters, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, Elsa and others, will affect her character so much.

Farida is now five years old, and still refuses to wear any clothes other than glittering dresses, and she refuses to participate symbolically in housework on the pretext that the princesses do not.

The mother decided that no more watching princesses; the little girl does not lead her normal life, but she clams other characters at the expense of building her own personality.

Screen time selection
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, screen time should be set as follows:

Children under one and a half years old should never be allowed to watch screens (TV, computers, smartphones). Children up to two years can spend time with one of their parents.

In the pre-school stage, watch time is not more than one hour per day, under the supervision of a parent, to help them understand what they are seeing.

For children and adolescents from the age of 5 to 18 years, parents must set limits for watching screens that are consistent with having adequate sleep and comprehensive physical activities.

The time set by the American Academy of Pediatrics to watch screens may not be commensurate with home isolation and staying home all day long, due to the Corona virus pandemic. The use of electronics occupies most of the day, whether it fits with the parents ’desire or not.

At this stage, perhaps what parents should pay more attention to is the quality of what their children watch, especially the young ones, because they do not realize much about what is happening around them, and perhaps what they see again and again at this stage will affect a lot on their personalities, especially in the absence of being able to Play, see friends, and have a fun, live and active time with their schoolmates.

However, how do parents determine what children should and should not be seen at this young age?

"We know a lot about children and television, because there have been thousands of studies on this topic. Researchers have studied how television affects children's sleep, their weight, their grades, their behavior, and so on, so we must consider how to manage this file from Before the parents. "

Advice for parents
Boyce gives some advice for parents on how to choose what children can see:

First: Parents should determine exactly what children will see, and make it available on home electronic devices or their children's own devices.

Second: Choose programs that support, develop and adopt your young child's personality, and programs that have no goal other than a negative influence on him, such as the type of clothes he wears and how to be rude.

Third: Not all programs should be open and available, because with parents busy, the child may inadvertently limp to see something other than what was specified.

Fourth: Having a frank and repeated dialogue with young children, according to which only permitted programs are explained. When the son asked to watch the screens, she deliberately told him, "You can watch the ninth episode of such-and-such."

Fifth: Not leaving the child for a long time without a review or note, you can tell him "Let me watch some of what you are watching with you now," or "I have some time and I decide to share with the Astronaut Program," for example.

What should not be seen
when thinking about what is appropriate and not appropriate to be seen by your children, consider these things that children are not allowed to see, according to the "Kids Health" website:

Bad language and violence, where children repeat the things they hear and simulate the behavior they see. Studies show that after watching violent programs, children act more aggressively directly. 

- Nudity and sexual content that is passed indirectly or explicitly, they are too young for it, and they have no maturity to deal with it.

Crime drama, crime scenes are very popular right now, and many children enjoy it.

Animation for adults, because many of them are not suitable for a child's audience, as they often contain bad language and sexual images.

- Commercials, where the commercials are broadcasted during children's programs, with the aim of making them plead with their parents to buy them, and it stimulates greed and the desire for immediate gratification.

Inappropriate music videos, some of the most popular songs are not suitable for young children, due to the lack of clothes they usually wear, and the movements they make.

Once again, be aware of what your children are watching, and note the impact that they have on their personalities, and make them stop immediately if you notice that something is not pleased, and tell them about it, tell them that "this program has had a bad impact on you and we must stop immediately."