IELTS essay sample | Children spend too much time watching TV

IELTS essay topic

Some studies suggest that children spend more time watching TV than they did in the past and spend less on doing active and creative things. Why do you think this is happening? What measures and methods can be used to solve the issue?

Sample essay

Television has turned most children into couch potatoes. They spend hours glued to the idiot box and show little interest in playing or socializing. Several factors have contributed to the development of this unhealthy trend.
First things first. In most families, TV assumes the role of a babysitter. Parents are usually busy with their own stuff and have little time for the child. So they switch the television on and put the child in front of it. Toddlers who watch a lot of TV will eventually become addicted to it. Excessive hours spent in front of the television also make kids obese. Obese children have little appetite for physical activities. They don’t enjoy running or jumping. They would rather sit and watch TV or play video games.

Another reason for television addiction is the rise of nuclear families. Many homes now have only one child. Children who have none to play with often find solace in the television set. Excessive screen time can lead to several problems. Kids who watch television for hours on end may develop obesity, diabetes and even cardiac problems. They may also have trouble focusing on their studies.

In this day and age when everyone has access to hundreds of television channels it is hard to wean children off their screen addiction. However, this is possible if parents and teachers make a concerted effort. Parents should set time limits and enforce them. They should stop using TV as a babysitter. Instead, they should encourage the child to do something creative. Parents can, for example, enroll their children in extracurricular classes. In many congested urban areas children do not have access to playgrounds. This too needs to change. The government needs to build parks and recreational areas everywhere. In addition, schools should make physical activity an integral part of the curriculum.

To conclude, if parents and teachers make a joint effort, they will not have much difficulty curing the children of their TV addiction.