A Study on the Impact of Electronic Media, particularly Television and Computer Consoles, upon Traditional Childhood Play and Certain Aspects of Psychosocial Development amongst Children

Excessive use of electronic media among children is resulting in traditional play being displaced and the years of childhood innocence lessening. Consequently “mini-adults ” instead of children are emerging with knowledge too complex for their stage of development. Research comprised of 3 questionnaires for 3 different target groups namely, 2nd and 6th class boys and girls, their parents, and the teachers in their schools. It found that indeed electronic media is impacting upon a child’s development in varying forms and highlighted the dominant presence of television in households. In addition, findings showed the contrasting opinions of parents regarding television and computer consoles upon their family life and child’s growth. Teachers clearly expressed their anxieties for the children in their school and outlined the areas of a child’s development being impacted upon that were of greatest concern to them. Furthermore, the research findings indicated the other electronic media that are growing in prevalence amongst primary school children i