Books vs Television

It is believed by some that the number of cases of ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, can be partially due to the continuous interruption in television programs by commercials. When a child is constantly interrupted during any activity, it breaks their concentration. Over a long period of time, they can no longer concentrate for more than ten to twelve minutes at a time. Their brains have been programmed, so to speak, to expect that interruption.

With television, children no longer have to use their imaginations. Everything is already laid out for them. On the other hand, if a child reads or is read to, they have to visualize everything in their mind. Reading can open up an entirely new world for children. This will only make children smarter by forcing them to think for themselves. Television and movies don't have the same depth in detail and originality.

While reading, if something is misunderstood, it is easier to read over a paragraph or even a page or chapter to get a better understanding of what you have read. While watching television, in most cases, you can't rewind to watch a specific portion of the program again. Even when you can, it is sometimes still lost to you.

You can compare materials in two or more books easier than you can with television programs. Written material seems to be retained better in long-term memory. Television happens so quickly that material is lost because it doesn't have the time to be absorbed. When a child is learning, reading is more effective.