Influence of television on preschoolers moral development in Langata district, Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

The study set out to establish the influence of television on preschooler's moral development in Langata sub country. The study examined the relationship between televisions on preschool learner's education, in moral development. The objectives include; to examine the relationship between television and learner's education, find out the effect of frequency of viewing television, investigate the effect of television on learner's activity, determine the effect of television on learners feeding habits and moral development on preschool children. The study established that the type of programs preschoolers watch on television had great influence on education and moral practices. Teachers had to adapt and provide lessons that not only educate but entertain the learner. This was as a result of reduced attention spans due to prominence of television and high frequency viewing in preschoolers from well to do families. Reading and writing in preschool was not regarded as an illicit activity, increasing the need for more manipulating materials to motivate extra participation during learning activities. In contrast, more of the programs from commercial television stations missed having any educational responsibilities, their reason being making a profit by attracting as wide an audience as possible in order to sell their products. This influenced preschoolers' morals in many different ways including mental retardation, obesity and internal organs health problems. Television viewing by preschoolers was also noted to be denying children the right opportunity for play that is more influential in improved moral development. In order to make parents and teachers more responsive and alert for improved moral development, the study recommended for teachers to create more learner support activities and materials to reduce violence in preschool centers. Advice parents on the need to control programs watched by preschoolers reducing time limit for the viewing to improve on the rate of play for preschoolers at home. More play facilities was recommended for use in preschool centers in order to motivate learning process leading to improved health in children. Parents were advised to choose the right activities, play materials and consequences in their preschooler's health. It is also important that preschool centers introduce computer technologies in order to motivate controlled learning activities disseminated to all children. This will largely reduce violence and aggression in preschoolers' morals.