Do you think children should watch news programs? If yes, starting at what age?
My daugher is age 11, going on 30 and very interested in world affairs and such. I let her watch some of the news, but we have Tivo, so I can choose what she watches. My son is age 8, and if he hears or sees all the bad stuff in the news, it just really upsets him. I don’t let him watch it. I think it really depends on the child. A parent should know what a kid can handle. If the news upsets them too much (because truthfully, who wouldn’t be upset by so much of what is in the news), then they aren’t ready to watch it. An example is the recent firestorms here in California. My daughter wanted to see the latest progress and the news and had many questions about why they started and how to fight them and what containment means, etc. My son was just afraid it could happen here. She learned from it, he just got scared.
Depending on the age of the child the news can be a very positive spring board for family discussion. Children listen to how their parents respond to the news and often repeat those views in school or other areas when adults bring up a similar subject. There are things to consider. Very young children do not understand the geography of the news they see. They may ignore it as something happening in a far away land or they may become fearful because they think it is happening right outside their door. Be careful about children under the age of 8 watching news unattended. From 8 to 12 are discovery years when they have some interest in the larger world but are still receptive to your input. They may or may not gain interest in world affairs or even local news but watching the news together is a great opportunity to discuss values and how to deal with difficult situations. From approximately 13 to adulthood they tend to disconnect. The news is a “parent” thing and they are all about being
