Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 September 2004 — Page 28

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PARENTING TIPS FROM THE DESK OF JADA

How TV affects your child Pram KMsHcalth.org Most children plug into the world ofTV long before they enter school: 70 percent of child care centers use TV during a typical day. In a year, the average child spends900hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV. Television may seem like a good thing: preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. No doubt about it - TV can be a great educator and entertainer if you watch with your child. But despite its advantages, too much television can be detrimental: • Research has shown that children who consistently spend more than 10 hours per week watching TV are more likely to be overweight and aggressive. • Children who view violent episodes, such as a kidnapping or murder, on the news are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them. • Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes. Children under age 2 should watch no TV and children older than 2 should watch no more than 2 hours a day, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). As a parent, you should monitor the content of the TV programming and set viewing limits to ensure your child doesn’t spend time watching TV that should be spent on other activities, such as playing with friends, exercising, and reading. Violence TV violence sometimes begs for imitation because violence is demonstrated and promoted as a fun and effective way to get what you want. Many violent acts are perpetrated by the “good guys,” whom children have been taught to emulate. Adding to the lure of imitation is TVs freedom from restraint. Children are taught by their parents that it’s not right to hit, but television says it’s OK to bite, hit, or kick if you’re the good guy. And even the “bad guys” on TV are rarely held responsible or punished for their actions. The images children absorb also can leave them traumatized and vulnerable. According to research, children ages 2 to 7 are particular!) frightened by fantastic, scary-looking things like grotesque monsters. Simply telling children that those images aren’t real won’t console them because they can’t yet distinguish between fantasy and reality. Children ages 8 to 12 are ' frightened by the threat of violence, natural disasters, and the victimization of children, whether those images appear in fiction or on the news or reality-based shows. Reasoning with children this age will help them, so you should provide reassuring and honest information to help ease your child’s fears.

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C SECTION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2004

Spotlight on 49th Street Fashion Show

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Tht Spotlight on 49"' stmt Fashion Show took place on Saturday. The fashion show raisad funds to benefit Coburn Place, a safe place for women and children who are homeless or victims of domestic violence.

Models worked the runway with designs by Fitness Concepts and Good Company.

Emmett Cooper and Mary Miller provided hair and makeup for the models.

Right: Designers were able to get creative on the runway.

Tim Bratton (left) and Jason Powell, musicians from Light of the World Christian Church, play a special tribute to the sponsors of Coburn Place. (Photos/J. Hurst)

Indianapolis Public School 38 held Its first alumni reunion. Sheila Stigger Golden and Rev. Tony Elliott, pastor of Greater Love Temple were among those in attendance.

Carl Waterford (left) played the guitar as Sandra Paige Harris joins in on keyboard to accompany Cynthia Stigger reciting a poem. (Photos/J. Hurst)

Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis held Its Prelude to Light Youth Summit at the State Fairgrounds on Saturday. The summit was designed to teach children about safe relationships and nonviolence. During the event, DeShay Bradley, Ben Davis High School student (left), listens in on what Byron Alston, Save-the-Youth moderator, has to say. (Photo/J. Hurst)

Temple Jones attends the Helping Hands Fast held at North United Methodist Church. The event was a fund raiser to benefit those disadvantaged in other countries. (Photo/C. Guynn)