Cable and Directv were not available when my 20, 24, and 25 year olds were that young. They watched Barney and Where in the world is Carmen San Deigo? on PBS. We bought Disney movies. So, they spent their time creating forts throughout the house, took my pots out of the cupboard and made music, played for hours in the sandbox outside our kitchen door, made up plays, sang and sang and sang.
They had toy cars, dolls and Fisher Price kitchens, bikes and cars. They played all day and used their imagination.
A TV allows them to sit and listen and teaches them that life has to be entertaining. They grow up with a need to be entertained. Teachers have so much trouble keeping their attention and focus because they have spent hours in front of a TV.
Parents use it as a baby sitter, I have seen children in playpens next to a TV so they would just sit and watch the TV.
They have no social interaction with a TV. They can dance and sing with the TV, but, to do that with other children is much more important for their social development. Many children after and even before 6 years old are so addicted to video games, they cannot sit still or be patient when it is time
No, they cannot understand reality and fiction. You can tell them it is not real, but, they are watching this character and believing this character and then the character dies. When they see that actor in another show, it is confusing. Some may be able to understand if a parent takes them to a play and talks about actors and actresses and "parts" to a show.
Sure, they take in what they watch-that is why you have five and six year oldds "humping" on people if they have seen porn, acting as if they are going to use a rifle or machine gun, cursing-oh, yes, they pick that up quickly and sometimes that isn't from TV, but, from MOM AND DAD!!
And it doesn't take much-my son watched "My Girl" a movie from about 25+ years ago. A little boy and girl are friends and the little girl dies of bee stings. My son was bitten by a wasp when he was 5 and he starting screaming hysterically that he was going to die. I had no idea what was happening. His babysitter had bought the movie and just let them watch it without my knowledge-finally figured it out. I would have told them during the movie exactly what was happening. Without adult supervision and explanations, they take what they see.
Any kind of show with sex, violence or inappropriate language should be totally off limits for children until ten or so. Even some ten year olds are too immature. It is up to the parent, but, in the words of the Black Eyed Peas:
Negative images is the main criteria,
Infecting young minds faster than bacteria,
Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema.........