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Protecting Your Child’s Health
Can TV Harm Your Child’s Development?
How much is too much, and other concerns
Your 3-year-old loves “Sesame Street,” but your neighbor’s child, who isn’t allowed to watch television, can’t tell Elmo from Barney.
Which child is better off? There’s no easy answer. Despite a recent study indicating that TV viewing by 1-to 3-year-olds increases the risk for future attention problems, medical professionals say it’s too early to make a definitive link.
“Conditions like attention deficit disorder (ADD) also are influenced by genetics and family environment,” says pediatrician Michael Schwartz, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “This study doesn’t prove television causes ADD. It simply raises an interesting possibility.”
| Here are answers to the questions parents often ask about TV watching. |
Can a child be too young for TV?
Yes, says the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends no television for children under age 2. “Your child develops by leaps and bounds in those earliest years,” says adolescent psychiatric social worker Gary Stone of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “One-on-one talking or singing with people is vital to develop language and social skills.”
What about youngsters over age 2?
Schwartz recommends limiting all “media time”—including video games—to no more than two hours a day. The concern is not what your children are doing, but what they aren’t doing. “When children watch TV, they’re sitting down, snacking and not getting exercise,” Schwartz says. “That can lead to obesity.”
What should they be watching?
High-quality educational shows like “Sesame Street” are proven to help preschoolers learn reading and math. “In moderation, television can inform, entertain and teach,” Stone says. “The best shows teach responsibility and love of self and others.”
What shouldn’t they be watching?
Programs and cartoons with violent content. Studies show a strong link between violence on television and hostility, fear, anxiety, depression and nightmares in children.
How can you use TV for your child’s benefit?
Watch television as a family so you can bring out the positive messages. And don’t put a television in your child’s bedroom. “That can lead to a lack of sleep,” Stone says, “and children need more sleep than adults to function properly.” |
Want to Know More? Click here for a list of positive television programs and TV-watching tips for you and your child or call 610-402-CARE.
This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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