How much T.V. do your children watch?

"Most kids plug into the world of television long before they enter school. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):

• two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch a screen an average of 2 hours a day
• kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs
• kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.

The first 2 years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development.

As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family.

Of course, television, in moderation, can be a good thing: Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. No doubt about it — TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer.

But despite its advantages, too much television can be detrimental:

• Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
• Kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior but also fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
• TV characters often depict risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, and also reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes.

Children's advocates are divided when it comes to solutions. Although many urge for more hours per week of educational programming, others assert that no TV is the best solution. And some say it's better for parents to control the use of TV and to teach kids that it's for occasional entertainment, not for constant escapism."

For the full article go to http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html#




How does this make you feel? If you're someone who limits your children's TV intake, how do you do that? Do you wish other Moms/Dads did the same and why? Do you notice a difference in your children's attitudes and behaviors?

If you don't limit T.V./Screen time, why not? Do you supplement with other activities, such as family game night once a week, or outdoor sports?


Personally, I was one of those mom's who let the T.V. babysit my baby for his first year, it was not a conscience decision, but an accident based on convenience. It was nice that he would watch Dora (or Oprah, or whatever was on) and I could do the dishes and other chores. I liked it too because it made my day go faster and distracted me from thinking about other pressing issues, like the many apartments that needed repairs (at the time we were apartment managers). Before I knew it, my husband was coming home from work, and the T.V. had been on since he had left.

After learning about the detrimental effects it can have on the development of a child's brain and movement - if not kept in balance - I turned it off. I know this has helped my son. In the month since we've kept it off, he's learned to crawl, he is MUCH more vocal, and he sleeps better. Plus the greatest bonus of all, is I play with him more! He has the best toys available that are supposed to foster learning and encourage development, but because I wasn't actively showing him how to play with them, he didn't use them and got bored. Besides the fact that obesity is a growing epidemic in our country, and that I was not very active as a pre-teen/teenager due largely because I spent a lot of time in front of a T.V. or on a computer (I'm feeling the effects of it now), I want my son to have an active and healthy lifestyle.  I love my son very much, and being a Mom on a Mission, I know what I'm learning and sharing with others will benefit him and our relationship and can help others as well.

Feel free to leave your comments about the article, what you do as a parent to help your children, or just general thoughts! 




Afterthought:
I thought I'd put in a picture of a TV for emphasis and found this:

I don't know if you can read this, but it's a 2005 graph showing the average daily household viewing for various countries.  United States is at the top with over 8 hours!  That's the average!  The bottom is Sweden, with just over 2 hours. No wonder why there's an obesity epidemic in the United States