| The average American child spends 26 hours a week | | | | watch them together as a family, and use them as a |
| in front of the television, and children are starting to | | | | starting point for discussions. The American Academy |
| watch TV earlier in life than in the past. Television is | | | | of Pediatrics recommends the following to help your |
| often used as a "babysitter," or children are allowed | | | | child develop positive viewing habits: |
| to have a TV set in their bedrooms, thus parents | | | | 1. Set limits. Limit your children's use of TV, movies, |
| loose control over what and how much television is | | | | and video and computer games to no more than 1 or |
| watched, and don't spend time enough family time | | | | 2 hours per day. Do not let your children watch TV |
| with their children. | | | | while doing homework. Do not put a TV in your |
| Common sense tells us too much of TV time is not | | | | child's bedroom. |
| healthy, and research supports those instinct. There | | | | 2. Plan what to watch. Instead of flipping through |
| is evidence that watching television is associated with | | | | channels, use a program guide and the TV ratings to |
| increased snacking on junk food, thus promoting | | | | help you and your children choose which shows to |
| increased caloric intake. Sedentary television watching | | | | watch. Turn the TV on to watch the program and |
| coupled with increased caloric intake promotes | | | | turn it off when it is over. Or use a DVR like TiVo to |
| obesity, thus low self-esteem, and other health | | | | record only the shows your child is allowed to watch. |
| problems associated with excessive weight. Some | | | | You can skip through the commercials, too! |
| problems are immediate, some emerge in adulthood. | | | | 3. Watch TV with your children. Whenever possible, |
| Studies show that TV violence promotes real-life | | | | watch TV with your children and talk about what |
| aggression in children, and may even lead to the | | | | they see. If your children are very young, they may |
| development of ADHD, and increase risk-taking | | | | not be able to tell the difference between a show, a |
| behaviors in teenagers. | | | | commercial, a cartoon, or real life. Be especially |
| What can parents do to prevent these harmful | | | | careful of "reality-based" programs. Most of these |
| effects of TV? It's simple. Turn off the TV and | | | | shows are not appropriate for children. |
| encourage play! The first two years of your child's | | | | 4. Find the right message. Some TV programs show |
| life represents a critical window for neurological | | | | people as stereotypes. If you see this, talk with your |
| development. Children should not be allowed to watch | | | | children about the real-life roles of women, the |
| TV at all during that time. Instead, they should play | | | | elderly, and people of other races. |
| with age appropriate toys that will help them develop | | | | 5. Help your children resist commercials. When your |
| manual dexterity and imagination. | | | | children ask for things they see on TV, explain that |
| After 2 years of age, children should watch no more | | | | the purpose of commercials is to make people want |
| than 1-2 hours of TV (that includes computer time | | | | things they may not need. |
| too!). The American Academy of Pediatrics states | | | | 6. Look for quality children's videos and DVDs. There |
| that consistent TV watching of more than 1-2 hours | | | | are many quality videos and DVDs available for |
| a day can cause sleep behavior and attention | | | | children. Check reviews before buying or renting |
| problems, thus the experts recommend putting a limit | | | | programs or movies. |
| of on children's TV viewing time. | | | | 7. Give other options. Watching TV can become a |
| Studies show that it is easier to decrease sedentary | | | | habit for your children. Help them find other things to |
| behaviors than it is to increase physical activity. Once | | | | do like playing, reading, learning a hobby, a sport, an |
| parents put a limit on TV/computer time, children will | | | | instrument, or an art, or spending time with family, |
| be more active. However, parents need to be a little | | | | friends, or neighbors. |
| more proactive to increase their children's physical | | | | 8. Set a good example. As a role model, limiting your |
| activity by scheduling playtime involving physical | | | | own TV viewing and choosing programs carefully will |
| exertion. | | | | help your children do the same. |
| A child should never have a television set in his or her | | | | 9. Express your views. When you like or do not like |
| bedroom, as it promotes watching too much TV and | | | | something you see on TV, make yourself heard. |
| separates the child from the family. In addition, when | | | | Stations, networks, and sponsors pay attention to |
| a child has a TV set in his or her room, parents lose | | | | letters from the public. If you think a commercial is |
| control of what and how much TV their child | | | | misleading or inappropriately targeting children, write |
| watches. Television should be used as an educational | | | | down the product name, channel, and time you saw |
| tool for older children. Parents should select the | | | | the commercial and describe your concerns. |
| programs they would like their children to watch, | | | | |