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.
That's why it's so important for you to monitor the
content of TV programming and set viewing limits to ensure that
your kids don't spend too much time watching TV.
Violence
To give you perspective on just how much violence kids see on
TV, consider this: The average American child will witness 200,000
violent acts on television by age 18. Kids may become desensitized
to violence and more aggressive. TV violence sometimes begs for
imitation because violence is often promoted as a fun and effective
way to get what you want.
Many violent acts are perpetrated by the "good guys,"
whom kids have been taught to emulate. Even though kids are taught
by their parents that it's not right to hit, television says
it's OK to bite, hit, or kick if you're the good guy. This
can lead to confusion when kids try to understand the difference
between right and wrong. And even the "bad guys" on TV
aren't always held responsible or punished for their
actions.
Young kids are particularly frightened by scary and violent
images. Simply telling kids that those images aren't real
won't console them, because they can't yet distinguish
between fantasy and reality. Behavior problems, nightmares and
difficulty sleeping may be a consequence of exposure to media
violence.
Older kids can also be frightened by violent depictions, whether
those images appear on fictional shows, the news, or reality-based
shows. Reasoning with kids this age will help them, so it's
important to provide reassuring and honest information to help ease
fears. However, consider not letting your kids view programs that
they may find frightening.
Risky Behaviors
TV is full of programs and commercials that depict risky
behaviors such as sex and substance abuse as cool, fun, and
exciting. And often, there's no discussion about the
consequences of drinking alcohol, doing drugs, smoking cigarettes,
and having premarital sex.
For example, studies have shown that teens who watch lots of
sexual content on TV are more likely to initiate intercourse or
participate in other sexual activities earlier than peers who
don't watch sexually explicit shows.
Alcohol ads on TV have actually increased over the last few
years and more underage kids are being exposed to them than ever. A
recent study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY)
found that youth exposure to alcohol ads on TV increased by 30%
from 2001 to 2006.
And although they've banned cigarette ads on television,
kids and teens can still see plenty of people smoking on programs
and movies airing on TV. This kind of "product placement"
makes behaviors like smoking and drinking alcohol seem acceptable.
In fact, kids who watch 5 or more hours of TV per day are far more
likely to begin smoking cigarettes than those who watch less than
the recommended 2 hours a day.
Obesity
Health experts have long linked excessive TV-watching to obesity
- a significant health problem today. While watching TV, kids are
inactive and tend to snack. They're also bombarded with ads
that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods such as potato chips and
empty-calorie soft drinks that often become preferred snack
foods.
Studies have shown that decreasing the amount of TV kids watched
led to less weight gain and lower body mass index (BMI - a
measurement derived from someone's weight and height).
Commercials
According to the AAP, kids in the United States see 40,000
commercials each year. From the junk food and toy advertisements
during Saturday morning cartoons to the appealing promos on the
backs of cereal boxes, marketing messages inundate kids of all
ages. And to them, everything looks ideal - like something they
simply have to have. It all sounds so appealing - often, so much
better than it really is.
Under the age of 8 years, most kids don't understand that
commercials are for selling a product. Children 6 years and under
are unable to distinguish program content from commercials,
especially if their favorite character is promoting the product.
Even older kids may need to be reminded of the purpose of
advertising.
Of course, it's nearly impossible to eliminate all exposure
to marketing messages. You can certainly turn off the TV or at
least limit kids' watching time, but they'll still see and
hear advertisements for the latest gizmos and must-haves at every
turn.
But what you
can
do is teach kids to be savvy consumers by talking about the
products advertised on TV. Ask thought-provoking questions like,
"What do you like about that?," "Do you think
it's really as good as it looks in that ad?," and "Do
you think that's a healthy choice?"
Explain, when kids ask for products advertised, that
commercials and other ads are designed to make people want things
they don't necessarily need. And these ads are often meant to
make us think that these products will make us happier somehow.
Talking to kids about what things are like in reality can help put
things into perspective.
To limit kids' exposure to TV commercials, the AAP
recommends that you:
- Have your kids watch public television stations (some
programs are sponsored - or "brought to you" - by
various companies, although the products they sell are rarely
shown).
- Record programs - without the commercials.
- Buy or rent children's videos or DVDs.
Understanding TV Ratings and the V-Chip
Two ways you can help monitor what your kids watch are:
-
TV Parental Guidelines.
Modeled after the movie rating system, this is an age-group
rating system developed for TV programs. These ratings are listed
in television guides, TV listings in your local newspaper, and on
the screen in your cable program guide. They also appear in the
upper left-hand corner of the screen during the first 15 seconds
of TV programs. But not all channels offer the rating system. For
those that do, the ratings are:
-
TV-Y:
suitable for all children
-
TV-Y7:
directed toward kids 7 years and older (kids who are able to
distinguish between make-believe and reality); may contain
"mild fantasy violence or comedic violence" that may
scare younger kids
-
TV-Y7-FV:
fantasy violence may be more intense in these programs than
others in the TV-Y7 rating
-
TV-G:
suitable for a general audience; not directed specifically
toward kids, but contains little to no violence, sexual
dialogue or content, or strong language
-
TV-PG:
parental guidance suggested; may contain an inappropriate theme
for younger kids and contains one or more of the following:
moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), occasional
strong language (L), and some suggestive dialogue (D)
-
TV-14:
parents strongly cautioned - suitable for only kids over the
age of 14; contains one or more of the following: intense
violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong language
(L), and intensely suggestive dialogue
-
TV-MA:
designed for adults and may be unsuitable for kids under 17;
contains one or more of the following: graphic violence (V),
strong sexual activity (S), and/or crude language (L)
-
V-chip (V is for "violence").
This technology lets you block TV programs and movies you
don't want your kids to see. All new TV sets that have
screens of 13" or more now have internal V-chips, and
set-top boxes are available for TVs made before 2000. The V-chip
allows you to program your TV to display only appropriately rated
shows - blocking out other, more mature shows.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that V-chips
in new TVs recognize the TV Parental Guidelines and the age-group
rating system and block those programs that don't adhere to
these standards.
For many, the rating system and V-chip may be valuable tools.
But there is some concern that the system may be worse than no
system at all. For example, research shows that preteen and teen
boys are more likely to want to see a program if it's rated MA
(mature audience) than if it's PG (parental guidance
suggested). And parents may rely too heavily on these tools and
stop monitoring what their kids are watching.
Also, broadcast news, sports, and commercials aren't rated,
although they often present depictions of violence and sexuality.
The rating system also doesn't satisfy some family advocates
who complain that they fail to give enough information about a
program's content to allow parents to make informed decisions
about whether a show is appropriate for their child.
So even if you've used the V-chip to program your TV or a
show features the age-group ratings, it's still important to
preview shows to determine whether they're appropriate for your
child and turn off the TV if they're not.
Teaching Good TV Habits
Here are some practical ways to make TV-viewing more productive
in your home:
- Limit the number of TV-watching hours:
- Stock the room in which you have your TV with plenty of
other non-screen entertainment (books, kids' magazines,
toys, puzzles, board games, etc.) to encourage kids to do
something other than watch the tube.
- Keep TVs out of bedrooms.
- Turn the TV off during meals.
- Don't allow kids to watch TV while doing homework.
- Treat TV as a privilege to be earned - not a right.
Establish and enforce family TV viewing rules, such as TV is
allowed only after chores and homework are completed.
-
Try a weekday ban.
Schoolwork, sports activities, and job responsibilities make it
tough to find extra family time during the week. Record weekday
shows or save TV time for weekends and you'll have more
family togetherness time to spend on meals, games, physical
activity, and reading during the week.
-
Set a good example
by limiting your own TV viewing.
-
Check the TV listings and program reviews ahead of
time
for programs your family can watch together (i.e.,
developmentally appropriate and nonviolent programs that
reinforce your family's values). Choose shows that foster
interest and learning in hobbies and education (reading, science,
etc.).
-
Preview programs
before your kids watch them.
-
Come up with a family TV schedule
that you all agree upon each week. Then, post the schedule in a
visible area (e.g., on the refrigerator) so that everyone knows
which programs are OK to watch and when. And make sure to turn
off the TV when the "scheduled" program is over instead
of channel surfing.
-
Watch TV together.
If you can't sit through the whole program, at least watch
the first few minutes to assess the tone and appropriateness,
then check in throughout the show.
-
Talk to kids about what they see on TV
and share your own beliefs and values. If something you don't
approve of appears on the screen, you can turn off the TV, then
use the opportunity to ask thought-provoking questions such as,
"Do you think it was OK when those men got in that fight?
What else could they have done? What would you have done?"
Or, "What do you think about how those teenagers were acting
at that party? Do you think what they were doing was wrong?"
If certain people or characters are mistreated or discriminated
against, talk about why it's important to treat everyone
fairly, despite their differences. You can use TV to explain
confusing situations and express your feelings about difficult
topics (sex, love, drugs, alcohol, smoking, work, behavior,
family life).
-
Talk to other parents, your doctor, and teachers
about their TV-watching policies and kid-friendly programs
they'd recommend.
-
Offer fun alternatives to television.
If your kids want to watch TV but you want to turn off the
tube, suggest that you all play a board game, start a game of
hide and seek, play outside, read, work on crafts or hobbies, or
listen and dance to music. The possibilities for fun without the
tube are endless - so turn off the TV and enjoy the quality time
together.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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