Your Kids and Television: Is it Really All that Bad?

by Lindsay Hutton

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 74% of all infants and toddlers have watched television before the age of two. Sound alarming? Are we raising little couch potato spuds? Perhaps not: A study released in February 2009 may put to rest fears that watching television during infancy negatively affects a child's development.

The study, conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), concluded that watching television during infancy does not seem to be associated with a child's language or visual motor skills by the age of three. However, despite these findings, the AAP still recommends that children older than two years watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming, and children under the age of two avoid television altogether.

Q: At what age did you introduce your child to television?

0-12 months.

1-2 years.

2+ years.

My child does not watch TV.

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Potential Benefits of TV

That's not to say that some television isn't a good thing. In fact, research has shown that school readiness and verbal and math abilities are greater in children who watch Sesame Street and other educational programming.

Age-appropriate shows can be instructive and entertaining for children of all ages, and can promote positive aspects of social behavior such as sharing, good manners, and cooperating with others. In addition, quality programming should spur a child's curiosity and eagerness to learn. According to the AAP, 70% of parents trust PBS for the best children's programming. Specific top program picks from parents include:

Sesame Street

Barney & Friends

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Lamb Chop's Play-Along

Reading Rainbow

If watching television doesn't have any negative impact, why should a child's consumption be limited? As the AAP points out, the first two years of a child's life are a critical time for brain development. Infants need direct interaction with people, such as playing and exploring with adults and other caregivers, for healthy brain growth and to develop appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Excessive television time can get in the way of these important developmental milestones.

Also, too much television when a child is young can lead to unhealthy habits as he gets older, and can get in the way of physical activity, reading, spending time with friends and family, and doing homework. In addition, according to the Nemours Foundation, kids who consistently watch more than four hours of television a day are more likely to be overweight, and kids who view violent acts on television are more likely to show aggressive behavior.

Striking the TV balance

It is important for parents to teach children from a young age that television is for occasional entertainment, not a constant distraction. Parents should be strict about setting limits on television time, and permit their children to watch only certain educational shows. The Nemours Foundation offers parents some additional tips for teaching children good television habits, such as:

In rooms with a television, make sure plenty of non-TV entertainment is also available, such as books, board games, puzzles, and kids' magazines.

Keep televisions out of bedrooms.

Turn the television off during meal times.

Talk to kids about what they see on television.

Watch television together.

Suggest fun alternatives to watching television.

By making television an occasional alternative to other activities, kids will be less likely to look to it as constant form of entertainment, and will find healthier ways to occupy their time.

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