America's children 2 to 7 years old spend two to three hours a day watching TV and videos, and doctors say that's far too much. What's so bad about kids watching TV?
Stunted brain development. Children's brains are not like adult brains. Children need face-to-face, real-life social interactions to learn and grow.
Lost time for active learning. Time spent watching a screen often displaces active play, social interactions and creative activity---all of which are necessary for mental, physical, and social development.
Obesity. Sitting in front of a screen keeps children from running, playing and other physical activity. In addition, commercials often promote high-sugar, high-fat foods.
Delayed school readiness. Children who grow up in households where the TV is on all or most of the time spend less time reading or being read to. Consequently, they are more likely to be slow in learning to read, regardless of their parent' educational level.
Other negative effects. TV watching is linked to other problems in children, such as poor sleep, low self-image, and later risky behavior (smoking and drinking).
TV, DVDs, video games and computers have become a regular part of daily American life. But like any technology, electronic media have upsides and downsides. make sure you children use it to their benefit, not their harm.
*With babies, choose activities that promote language development and brain growth such as talking, playing, reading, singing and enjoying music. Babies don't need---or learn from---TV.
*With children older than 2, remember that less is better. Limit total TV and video/screen time, including educational programs, to no more than two hours a day.
*If you allow TV time at home, use it sparingly and deliberately. Choose programs and videos appropriate to your child's age. Be wary of claims that programs or DVDs are education. Even children's cartoons can be scary or over-stimulating.
*Watch TV actively with children. Talk with them about the character, the story and their feelings about what they see.
*Set media-free days and plan fun things to do.
*Turn off the TV when the selected program ends. Don't leave the TV on when no one is watching it.
*Set rules for use. Not TV and video games during meals and after bedtime, for example. Set consequences for breaking rules, such as removing the TV or gaming system.
*Avoid using TV and video games as a reward. You don't want them to seem more important than they already are.
*Keep TVs and video games out of bedrooms and sleeping areas.
Illinois Parenting News/Winter 2011
Adapted from "Television in early care programs" by Brigette Vittrup, Texas Child Care, Winter 2010
More information---
The Mayo Clinic---http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/children-and-tv/MY00522
