By Robin Millar FCS 5220

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, mostly TV and videos or DVDs Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend almost 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and about 2 more hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games.

 The 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.

 Violence  Risky Behavior  Obesity Don’t just sit there… DO SOMETHING!!

 The average American kid will see 200,000 violent acts on TV by age 18  Violence is often shown as“fun” and promotes this type of behavior  It is often “glamorized” so that the good guys – who are potential role models – are performing these acts  Sometimes young children are so frightened that behavior problems, nightmares and difficulty sleeping can be a result

Video games have become one of the dominant entertainment media for kids. The popularity has gone from kids playing about four hours a week in the mid-1980’s to about seven hours a week for school age children in the year A recent survey of over 600 eighth and ninth graders showed they average about 9 hours a week – boys averaged about 13, girls about 5. Over 89% of video games contain violence and about half of them include serious injuries or death against other game characters. Kids who prefer violent games have been linked with more arguments with teachers, lower expectations of their own behavior, more physcal fights, and hostile biases.

Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 16 percent of children and adolescents ages 6-19 years are overweight. This represents a 45 percent increase from the overweight estimates of 11 percent obtained from NHANES III ( ).  Health experts have linked excessive TV-watching to obesity for years – obesity is an ever increasing issue in the US  While watching TV, kids are not moving and they have a tendency to snack – usually on empty calories and unhealthy foods  They also are continuously being encouraged to eat from the commercials for various restaurants – and usually it’s the unhealthy foods

 Limit the number of TV watching hours  Stock the room that your kids watch TV with other non-screen things (like books, kids’ mags, toys, puzzles, games, etc) to get them to do other things  Keep TV’s and hand held games out of the bedrooms  Be sure to turn off the TV during meals  No TV while doing homework!  Try a weekday ban to find other opportunites for entertainment  Be an example – limit your own use of TV and screen games  Preview programs before letting the kids watch them  Watch TV together and talk to your kids about what they are seeing; if they see something inappropriate – discuss it  Offer fun alternatives to screen media

 The AAP recommends you limit kids’ exposure to commercials by having them watch public television or by recording them without the commercials. Plus you can always rent age appropriate videos and DVDs.  Ask questions like, “do you really think it tastes as good as it looks?” or “Do you think that’s a healthy choice?”  Keep healthy foods readily available for healthy snacking

 TO WORK TOGETHER!! Keep your lines of communication open, and lovingly educate while setting a good example and opening the door to alternative opportunities.

 American Psychological Association. (2007, February 19). Media Information. Retrieved April 2009, from APA ONLINE:  Connect with Kids. (2008, November 19). Sex in the Media. Retrieved April 2009, from Connect with Kids: week/081119_sex.shtml  Gentile, D. A. (2003). Media violence and children:acomplete guide for parents and professionals. Westport: Praeger.  How TV Affects Your Child. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2009, from KidsHealth: html#  NCHS - National Center for Health Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2009, from CDC:  Wade, L. (2007, June 15). Lisa Wade: There is Not Enough Sex in American Media. Retrieved April 2009, from The Huffington Post: b_52398.html b_52398.html