There are enough fault-finding studies out there to have television declared a germ. Among them is research indicating that children get fat while watching too much TV. Another study suggests that television may be behind an attention-deficit epidemic.
Both assertions make an uncomfortable amount of sense. So parents may want to know what experts advise on tube-watching time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, based in Elk Grove Village, tells parents to limit children, including teens, to one or two hours daily. Below age 2, no TV at all.
“We just do not know what TV does to kids under the age of 2,” said Dr. Marjorie Hogan of Minneapolis, chairwoman of the committee that developed the guidelines. The two-hour limit applies not only to TV but all media, including the Internet and video games. “Use some flexibility,” Hogan said. “If my son is working on a project and is on the Internet, I will let him have more time.”
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Hogan explained that many studies indicate excessive TV hinders mental and physical development.
The National Institute on Media and the Family, a not-for-profit organization based in Minneapolis, offers several tips.
– Keep televisions out of children’s bedrooms, no matter the age.
– Make clear rules about what can be watched and when. Consistency is very important.
– Practice “appointment” television, deciding in advance using the TV program guide what can be watched in the coming week.
– Use the VCR and capture shows really worth watching, and fit them into the children’s TV-watching schedules.
– Don’t make television the focal point of the room.
– Turn off the television during meals. It’s a natural time for family members to talk.