My daughters do not usually watch television programs that are not childish, but have they ever come across the news, or with some fiction series, and before certain images that catch their attention, the oldest has asked "That's true?".
Some recent examples: children in Africa very sick or fighting in the news. If true. And we explain in the most delicate way and adapted to their age (about to turn four) what is seen on TV.
Children are likely to find news or images on television, radio and other media and that what they see or hear makes them see the world as a place full of confusion or menacing. Unlike movies and entertainment shows, the news is real.
But depending on the age of a child and his level of maturity, I may not understand the difference between reality and fantasy.
Therefore, when my daughter has run into some series in which someone died, telling her that it is not true, that it is like a story, a story like that of cartoons, she probably does not know how to differentiate. Although not too worried at this age. We have already seen that before the age of five, children have a very peculiar concept of "death."
Already when they reach seven or eight years, what they see on television may seem too real to them, and they may worry about what they see. Experts recommend that to calm the fears that the news can convey, parents should be prepared to offer what psychologists call "fair and clear, although limited information."
This means telling the truth, but in accordance with the degree of emotional development of your child. The key is to be honest, but without more details than those that may interest your child or that he can assume. More or less, what we tried with our daughter, although she is not yet that age.
The best maybe prevent children too young from facing programs that are not appropriate for their age, for the damage that these images could do.
Although, let us be disappointed, even in children's channels they will find programs of undesirable content, or advertising that is not regulated enough to protect children. That's why it is best to be always attentive to command... and limit television time.
