INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION ON CHILD INTEREST IN READING

INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION ON CHILD INTEREST IN READING

A.   Introduction

Television is the electronic mass media are able to disseminate news quickly and have the ability to reach audiences in an infinite amount at the same time. Television is also one of the electronic mass media is most beneficial to the community. Because of television we could get a lot of information that is not only audible but also visible. Today's televisions are very popular almost in all age levels, both by children, adolescents and adults. Television has both positive and negative impacts. Even if further examination of the negative impact of television is much greater  than  positive impact. Television viewers have been able to anesthetize to continue watching the show after the show is packed in such a way, and with accessory add-on accessory of interest, thus making the audience was amazed by the events presented. Not uncommon today many children prefer to linger in front of the television than on learning, from the almost forgotten the time eating. This is a problematic that occur in the environment we are now, and need special attention for every parent to always keep an eye on her activities.

For children, television viewing habits can lead to declining interest in reading the children's book. Lazy is the most commonly occurs when a child has been affected by watching television so much fun learning to forget, and this is very detrimental to the child himself because he's lazy will not get anything and what he dreams, aspirations in life, and therefore it would be nice parents limit television time and filter the display to suit the needs of the child, but lazy television a bad influence on children's behavior that is modeled on things that should not be in the example, suppose a child aged under five years of watching television shows for adults, of course it is "dangerous" because the child can mature before adulthood, means that the actions committed by an adult should not be emulated by young children, such as violence, such as lifestyle-looking, outgoing, and style-speaking style that does not comply with the rules of the language, and so forth. It also requires control of the parent to show that such a mature nature. If the negative has been the case then we can see further than the child's own personality will change and the "possibility" harm to all parties including himself.

If we examine further the television mass media actually has a major function that always must be considered is the function of informative, educational, recreational, and as a means of disseminating the values ​​or understandings of both the old and new. But if we look at the reality right now, television shows rather informative and recreational functions only, examples of soap operas, movies, comedy and infotainment. While the educative function which is very important function to be delivered is very little. It is unfortunate that children who are the assets that will continue the struggle of this nation and that will advance the nation, since childhood had been accustomed to things that are not beneficial, then this country that has been left behind and dropped it will worsen and left and will eventually become the country that will harass the other countries. This fact is not only to us but it is necessary to note the action to anticipate them. Which certainly takes the embroidery  unit within each of the parents and community members to be able to anticipate the impact that would occur and could be a control for the television broadcasters to events broadcast by any television station.

B.     Impact of Television on Interests (Abilities and Reading Behavior)

Overall, the majority of correlation studies ever undertaken explained that there is a negative association between television viewing with the ability to read. However, the most common finding is that the increased frequency of television viewing in children, is negatively related to reading comprehension test results, which means that the more time spent watching television will be worse than the reading comprehension test. Most of these studies concluded that television has the ability to inhibit the growth of children, especially the development of reading comprehension.

Television also assessed not only in habit the development of reading skills but also has replaced reading in leisure activities and other activities related to the cognitive development of children. For example, there is evidence to suggest that watching television will reduce the time to do homework (Dorr, 1986), so that it can be said to interfere with the development of reading skills.

Television  also assessed not only inhibit the development of reading skills but also has replaced reading in leisure activities and other activities related to the cognitive development of children. For example, there is evidence to suggest that watching television will reduce the time to do homework (Dorr, 1986), so that it can be said to interfere with the development of reading skills.
However, in contrast to its impact on the ability to read as set out above, other experts say the opposite, namely Chen. TV can cause a lot of good in foster interest in reading among children. Chen (1996) said in his research that television can encourage children to read certain works. In this he explained by taking the Reading Rainbow television broadcast. And proved that it is well-liked television shows and can increase a child's interest to read the book Reading Rainbow. It is recognized that each of the media such as television has advantages and disadvantages, but the question is can the two things are combined so that it can be possible to include children in decision making. This is a prudent step and in the eyes of children, parents are not dictatorial, authoritarian and uncompromising

Such as Chen`s expressed above, within certain limits, the television has an influence on the child's social development and literacy as proposed Arini Hidayati (1998: 80-88) that:

First, the broadcast television can foster the desire to acquire knowledge. This means that some children are motivated to follow what he saw on television, perhaps by reading a book or magazine to increase his knowledge. This is because that what is displayed on the television screen is very limited. A news, information and events will make the child more curious, especially if the information is incomplete broadcast. Curiosity is certainly not readily known to the child, because of the nature of television is just the direction that the child will be forced to seek additional information from the outside. The emergence of motivation to seek and follow what is on television reflects the resilience of children in direct continuation of the search process is not immediate response communications activities derived from television, which is usually derived from books, magazines, radio or other sources. To point to something positive is certainly dependent on the 2 (two) things: first, it takes the participation of parents in the activities of children watching television. Both depend on the child itself, to how much children want to explore more knowledge than what is obtained from the television.

Second, television affects the addition of vocabulary. The addition of vocabulary learned from television of course no one can be understood by children and some do not. Therefore, the extent to which children can use television as a medium of learning must depend on the involvement of parents in assisting children to watch television. Help parents to explain the vocabulary learned from television will have a positive impact for applications in vocabulary is social interaction.

Third, television provides knowledge that could not be obtained from the surrounding environment, as developments in science. Children from watching television were able to develop extensive knowledge of learning acquired outside of school. Through a variety of events that are fictional to the real reality of the child will get an overview of life and all sorts of problems.

C.    Positive Impact of Television (How to Build a Balance)

The findings of the study the influence of television on children reading activities suggested four recommendations regarding how and when the child reading activities can be enhanced (van der Voort & Koolstra, 1996).

First, to stimulate the child's reading activities can be done by limiting the amount of time they have used to watch television. The Review is based on the finding that the temporary reduction of television viewing time associated with an increase in the amount of time needed to read. A reduction in the amount of television viewing by children may also be an advantage for the development of reading skills of children. Although this study was performed on young children (elementary school) and not in adolescents or adults, but managed to get the conclusion that the reduction in activity of television viewing may encourage the development of reading skills of younger children. But of course the success of this venture depends on the role of parents in directing the activities of children in watching television.

Second, parents can encourage children to read by helping them to be selective in the use of television. Despite the research evidence says that in the aggregate, the reading decreased as a result of the openness of television, there are also indications that watching certain types of television programs which serve the promotion of reading a particular book. Television can encourage children to read books by broadcasting the film or series of versions of existing books and book discussion program in which children learn about a new issue. A selective use of television can also provide a beneficial effect on the development of reading skills of children. In addition, there are indications that educational television programs that are specifically designed to enhance the ability of the child (such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company) can improve the reading skills of kindergarten children and first child at primary school level.

The third is a measure designed to promote child reading activities will be focused on young children and the elderly. Grow along with television means that at a relatively young age, before children begin to speak, left to their own reading, watching television can be a part of behavior, giving the television a number of advantages of the book, a direction that is difficult to be pursued when a child in age where they are ready to read. Because of that early age children have a source of concern is more interesting and simple to use, they do not learn much fun to read. Thus, less can be advised to pay attention to the measurements that are designed to improve reading in children who were younger, so read for entertainment have shown as an activity that is stable enough to appear at the age of 8 years (van der Voort & Koolstra, 1996).

Fourth, the finding that television would reduce the child's reading activities and inhibit the development of reading skills to disrupt the child's attitude toward reading says that measurement should focus on promoting the fun of reading. In particular, as many experts in the field state, the school should be less emphasis on reading to gain information and give more space to read for entertainment.

CONCLUTION

In my opinion, it can be concluded that the negative impact of television is a decline in achievement levels of children from watching too many shows on television, in this case the influence of children to scenes on television, at least from the students' learning time on watching television at home, lack of Parental control of child development so that more children find their own entertainment and the latter is less precise schedule of television shows for children. I have some tips for reducing the negative impact of television viewing for children. First, restrictions apply. Child's television viewing habits associated with the degree of parental supervision. Specify what, when, and how much television is watched. Impose limits will teach the children that they should choose the most popular events, appreciate the time and choice, and to balance their needs. Second, make watching television as an option rather than as a mandatory agenda. For example to give permission for children to watch television after he learned or tasks. Third, parental supervision. Every parent has a responsibility to always supervise their children and pay attention to its development, by the NII because it's the things that no matter how small must be anticipated by any parent of a positive or negative impacts that will be caused by it are concerned. Fourth, familiarize children to read books. Put the book an easy place to reach children, take the child to the store and library. And the last one is multiply listen to radio, play cassettes or listen to music as a substitute watching television. It is very important to do because by listening to the radio, the child will be trained ability to hear, if we compare the premises only stimulates children to watch television to follow the story line without further analysis of what is seen and heard. Likewise with music performed better when compared to watching television because they can train the development of a child's imagination.

REFERENCES

Chen, Milton, 1996. Anak-anak dan Televisi. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Hidayati, Arini, 1998. Televisi dan Perkembangan Sosial Anak. Yogjakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.

Liu, Ziming, 2008. Paper to Digital – Documents in the Information Age. London: Libraries Unlimited.

Sugihartati, Rahma, 1997, Televisi dan Minat Baca Anak, Studi Tentang Pengaruh Televisi Terhadap Minat Membaca Anak dan Perang Orang Tua Dalam Menumbuhkan Perilaku Gemar Membaca Pada Anak. Surabaya: Lemlit Unair.