Ask the Pediatrician: TV Time

Q: Parents have known for some time to limit the time that their children watch television, but now there is a new study out talking about background television. What does this study tell us?

A: In the Journal Pediatrics this month, researchers under a grant from the Public Broadcasting System try to figure out the average amount of time per day that children are exposed to television in the house. They surveyed about 1,500 U.S. households with children between the ages of 8 months and 8 years old and had them record over a 24 hour period how much time the T.V. is on. The results are astounding. On average, an infant between the ages of 8 months and 2 years is exposed to 5 ½ hours of background television every day! That number goes down to 2 ½ hours per day for the ages of 6 to 8 years old. Keep in mind, this is in addition to the amount of time that the kids are actively watching television geared towards them.

Q: If the television isn’t meant to be watched by the children, does background T.V. really matter?

A: Yes. Most of the time, the child may be engaged in other activities, but they are exposed to the noise of it in the background. It is the reality that children will occasionally be watching as their walk through the room or look at the screen in passing. What they may be watching may not be appropriate for young impressionable eyes. Research has already shown that the more T.V. a child watches, the more likely they are to have attention issues, their school performance decreases, as well as many other effects. While the T.V. is on, the caregiver may not be actively engaged in activities with them that would enrich their lives, such as active outdoor play, reading, or creative activities.

Q: It sounds like it may be a good idea to think carefully about television watching.

A: Of course. I suggest keeping the television out of children’s rooms, turning off the T.V. during mealtime and important family time, and being mindful of what is being shown on the screen, even if you don’t think the child is paying attention. A child constantly learns from what she or he is exposed to. Choose carefully what that child is learning.