Never before have game shows with the participation of children boomed in Vietnam like at the present, which has raised concerns over using children as a tool to earn money.

Many children in Vietnam who are just four years old allowed to join game shows

This is a comment by National Assembly Deputy Pham Minh Hien from Phu Yen Province at a recent Q&A session with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien.   

According to Hien, children’s game shows have mushroomed and they are held throughout the year.

Since Do Re Mi – a music contest for kids– was launched in 2007, such game shows have spread like wildfire. Hundreds of music and dance contests for children have been broadcasted.

To attract viewers and attract advertising as well as sponsors, game show producers often try to exploit the emotions of the children and their family.

Currently, many programmes allow children who are just four years old to sing love songs. How can a small child who even can’t speak clearly understand the lyrics?

“Then after the performances at game shows, many children are described as musical or comedy talents. Whether what can they learn from this or it would be a pressure and illusion for them in the future?” Hien said.

During game shows, children have the chance to grow as people. The game shows also help children develop their patience and self-confidence.

But game shows may affect a child’s development, especially their psychological development. The children have to follow what the producers want. In reality, after becoming famous from game shows, many children have been turned into “machines” to earn money from a range of shows and then join TV advertisements so they sometimes don’t study at school.

Hien highlighted that children should only be encouraged to participate in game shows for entertainment and educational purposes, but not as a tool of earning money.

She suggested more strict regulations to control children game shows, too. She pointed out that the government’s recently revised decree does not stipulate punishments for exploiting children in such activities.

At the Q&A session, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien admitted management loopholes in terms of children’s game shows, adding that the ministry is seeking opinions from different agencies for issuing specific regulations in the coming time.

Nguyen Trong An, former deputy head of the Child Care and Protection Department under the Ministry of Labour Invalids and Social Affairs said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Education and Training should work together on legal issues on protecting children in such activities.

Dtinews