The influence of television viewing on pre-schoolers' sociability in play in Juja division in Thika West District

Abstract

The study endowered to explore the influence of television viewing of pre-school children's sociability in play in Juja Division in Thika West District. The study formulated research questions about the percentage of pre-school children who watch television, time spent by pre-school children watching television, kinds of programmes and parental supervision on television viewing on pre school children sociability in play. It was limited to pre-school children who watched television and delimited to Juja Division in Thika West District.

Data was collected using interview guides and an observation schedule. The data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. It was revealed that television was present in the lives of most pre-school children in Juja division in Thika West Division. It was also observed that television consumes pre-school children's time that they need for other important activities such as play which is crucial for their social development.

It was also revealed that most of the programmes that pre-school children are exposed to have characters whose reactions, attitude and relations with other characters could influence the way pre-school children handles and relates with other children during their play. It was also observed that a big percentage of parents do not supervise what their pre-school children watch on television hence children enter a world of fantasy without the guidance and oversight of adults.

Pre-school children are exposed to shows without adults' supervision to comment on content and discouraging the behavior they see on television. It was concluded that television watching could have negative influence on preschooler's sociability in play. If the child is not well guided by parents and guardians on the amount of television and the type of programmes to which they are being exposed to.