Trauma on TV: Should Kids Watch?

ByABC News
April 17, 2007, 3:31 PM

April 17, 2007 — -- As the story of the Virginia Tech shooting unfolds, people across the nation will inevitably be glued to their television screens.

But while it's tempting to keep the television on 24/7, psychology experts caution that parents may want to keep an eye on how much of the violent coverage they allow their children to watch.

Of course, in this day and age, it's almost impossible to completely shield children from talk and images of violent current events. Kids will likely hear small amounts of information from friends, other parents, teachers and the media.

But many parents may wonder exactly how much information they should allow their children to have. Experts generally agree that the amount of information children get from TV and other media should depend on a child's age and emotional development.

Very young children -- of preschool and early elementary school age -- are visual sponges, experts say. They soak up most of their information from what they see.

They will not understand most of what is going on but "are highly affected by images as well as by witnessing the anxiety of adults," said Lynda Madison, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Creighton University School of Medicine.

"So, allowing them to watch the news or overhear adults who are fearful or worried can be very distressing."

Parents also need to remember that young children may lack the complex thinking skills needed to understand the situation.

"They do not comprehend the permanence of death, and, if they see repeated photos of any disaster, they will think it is happening all over again," explained Dr. Karen Olness, professor of pediatrics, family medicine and global health at Case Western Reserve University.

"It is a good idea not to let them see repeated footage from this disaster or from any disaster."

Jay Reeve, assistant professor of psychology at Florida State University, agrees. "I would discourage having a lot of graphic visuals from TV or the Internet. There's really no particular reason for them to be exposed to scenes of graphic violence."