Television and new media are everywhere. Eliminating the media from kids' daily diets is no longer an easily obtainable option. How much exposure can parents safely allow
Unlike children of recent generations past, today’s kids have access to literally 24 hour a day children’s programming on multiple channels. In addition to on-demand viewing of their favorite shows available on DVD and digital DVR, modern cars are often equipped with monitors and portable DVD players. With schools and daycare using educational programming in the classroom, children are now subject to media exposure during most of their waking hours. Obviously, the current trend consists of too much television viewing but how much is considered to be safe?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidelines for television, computers and video games indicating that children under 2 years of age should be allowed no viewing time at all due to this crucial age of brain development. Children over 2 should be allowed only 1 - 2 hours a day.
Despite these guidelines, the typical American child spends over 4 hours a day in front of the television. This equals 1023 hours a year of viewing in contrast to the 900 hours a year kids spend in a classroom. What effect does this much exposure have on our kids?
Fear of violence: Small children cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. Telling a small child that a frightening image isn’t real doesn’t help and they can easily be traumatized. Older children and adults have been shown to develop an exaggerated sense of danger and may fear becoming a victim of violent crime. Fear of violence may contribute to recent reductions in the amount of time children spend outside and therefore the obesity epidemic.
Unhealthy Messages: Television often depicts risky and unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol in a glamorous light. Negative stereotypes and behaviors are also reinforced as “The Norm.”
Obesity: If children are watching over 4 hours of television a day, it doesn’t matter if it is “educational” programming. The effects on weight gain are the same and time spent in front of the television is time taken away from exercise.
Materialism: Not only are children being bombarded with commercials for snack foods that they then consume while sitting and viewing, but a distorted sense of materialism as a means to happiness is consistantly depicted.
Social/Learning: Children need time to discover their imaginations and socialize with parents and other children. Children learn by doing. Sitting passively and watching educational programming is a poor substitute for creative play.
Television and new media are here to stay. Eliminating the media from children’s daily diets is no longer an easily obtainable option but a commitment by parents to planned reduction of family media consumption is possible and beneficial for all family members.
Resouces: American Academy of Pediatrics website
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TV Violence and Childhood Obesity
