Switch Off Your TV and Save Our Children

In interview with some Germany media, a world's pop singer Madonna revealed that she is a very strict mother and not allowing her children watching TV, called TV no more that 'trash'.

"We have televisions but the kids are not hooked up to anything but movies. TV is trash. I was raised without it. Children need limits, otherwise they go off the rails," Madonna said.

Madonna didn't make an overstatement by saying TV no more than 'trash' as some studies proved that TV programs and watching TV excessively will cause negative impact to its viewers.

A British lobby groups, as cited by Daily Mail, in September 2006 claimed that television was contributing to the premature death of childhood. A groups made of renowned psychologists, academics and authors said that the youngsters turned into what they called "mini adults" because television exposing them with unsuitable material which is also make them susceptible to depression and developmental problems.

Television is also contributing to childhood obesity which become double in number in the last decade. According to their research in 2006, one in four children aged 11-15 went through obesity problem.

Indonesia is similarly facing a serious problem. We do remember how "Smack Down" broadcast by one of private television affected many indonesia children. They imitated the violence on that program, practiced what they saw on TV to their pals that caused death.

A recent studi by Yayasan Pengembangan Media Anak (YPMA)-media development for children foundation-show a hight alert of TV addicted among indonesian children. The studi said that most indonesian chlidren spent almost 1.600 hours in  watching TV compared with 740 hours  they spend studying at school. Moreover this is is a worrying phenomenon as they see the facts that there are many bad TV program which is not safe neither nor clean for children,  broadcast regulation and law enforcement in the country are still very weak and our community are not very aware to be more selective in watching TV.

To increase that awareness and in commemorate on National Children Day in July 23, YPMA launch a national campaign called "A Day without TV 2008". On this campaign they call all family in Indonesia not to watch TV for a day long on Sunday, 20 July 2008 and suggest them to find any alternative activity which is more educative, informative and fun for their children rather than watching TV.

The National Coalition for "No TV Day 2008" hope this campaign will be a starting point to reduce a level of TV addicted among indonesian children and encourage parents to be actively selecting all  TV programs which one is proper to their children.


pic from here