Family schedules and home routines typically change at the end of summer when school begins. The back-to-school time is a logical time to initiate new home habits, ones that will help children do well in school. Among them is limiting the amount of time children spend watching TV, a change that can help children in many ways. The amount of screen time considered excessive depends on the age of the child and how much time is spent with other types of screen media, such as video games and computers. In general, more than two or three hours of screen time per day is cited as excessive.

Consider the following negative effects of watching a lot of TV.

Excessive TV viewing is linked to aggressive behavior.

Children who watch a lot of television typically see a large number of violent acts, many of which go unpunished. Excessive TV watching can influence children to behave more aggressively toward others, to have more worries and fears about their world, and to become less sensitive to real-life violence. Studies have also shown that children who play a lot of violent video games often behave more aggressively and are less sensitive to others' pain than children who do not use such games. Psychologists have studied the impact of media violence on aggressive behavior for many years and have come to the same conclusion: viewing media violence is related to aggressive behavior in some children .

Excessive TV viewing is linked to obesity.

The number of seriously overweight and obese youth in the United States is increasing and is considered by many-including the U.S. Surgeon General and researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-to be at epidemic levels . Studies on childhood obesity have found that children who watch 4 or more hours of television each day tend to have higher percentages of body fat and body mass indexes than those who watch fewer than 2 hours a day. As a strategy to combat childhood obesity, Dr. T. N. Robinson suggests reducing the use of television, videotapes, and video games.

Excessive TV viewing is linked to lower reading skills and poor academic achievement.

It is not surprising that children who spend many hours watching television are not spending those hours reading or doing homework. In fact, research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) indicates that children who watch more than 13 hours of TV each week did worse on tests of verbal and math achievement than other children. The same study also reported that children who read more achieved at higher levels than children who read little or did not read at all .

Excessive TV viewing is linked to children's requests for toys.

Children who watch a lot of TV are also exposed to a lot of commercials. Advertisers know this fact, and they are deliberate in how they market their products to influence young consumers. A study published in the June issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics found that efforts to reduce the amount of TV children watched resulted in fewer demands by children for toy purchases. In short, less TV, fewer commercials, and reduced nagging by children .

None of these studies recommends that parents eliminate television. Instead, they encourage parents to set limits for their children on the time spent viewing and the programs viewed on television. TV watching is often more habit than choice. Consider some of the following tips for parents to help children kick-or at least tame-the TV habit :

1. Avoid using television as a babysitter. If children need quiet time alone, consider alternative activities, such as listening to stories on tape, reading, or drawing.

Limit the use of TV to 1-2 hours per day. Be selective about the programs watched.

Watch TV together. Help children to critically evaluate commercial messages and products advertised on television.

Examine how you use television yourself. Do you "channel surf" to pass time, for example? Children model their behavior after their parents' behavior.

Establish clear ground rules about times when TV cannot be watched, such as during meals or before completing homework or household chores.

Use the VCR to your advantage by fast forwarding through commercials on shows taped previously.

Do not give the television the most prominent location in the house. The saying, "Out of sight, out of mind" applies here.

Keep television out of children's rooms.

Use the radio, cassette tapes, or CDs when the television is not on, to help children experience pleasure from other forms of media.

Provide alternative activities such as reading, sports, games, and hobbies that children can do on their own and ones that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Children are more apt to get hooked on alternative activities such as reading together, playing card games, and doing jigsaw puzzles, for example, when they involve other family members.

For more information

The Parent's Guide: Use TV to Your Child's Advantage http://npin.org/library/1998/n00049/n00049.html

TV Tune Out '97 http://npin.org/pnews/1997/pnew297/pnew297e.html

"Mommy, I'm Scared": How TV and Movies Frighten Children and What We Can Do to Protect Them http://npin.org/books/cantor98.html

Television Viewing Habits of Black Children http://npin.org/pnews/1996/pnew896/pnew896a.html [NPIN Editor's note (9-13-02): this url has changed: http://npin.org/pnews/1996/pnew896.html#1]

Guidelines for Family Television Viewing http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00420/n00420.html

Media Violence and Young Children http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00154/n00154.html

Sources

[1] Aidman, Amy. (1997). Television violence: Content, context, and consequences. ERIC Digest. Champaign, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. (ERIC Document No. ED414078)

[2] Bushman, Brad J., & Anderson, Craig A. (2001). Media violence and the American public. American Psychologist, 56(6/7), 477-489.

[3] Hill, Martha N. (2000). Physical activity and good nutrition: Essential elements for good health [Online]. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/dnpaag.htm

[4] Research on today's issues: How do children spend their time?
Children's activities, school achievement, and well-being. (2000). Available: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/cpr/dbs/pubs/ti11.pdf

[5] Robinson, Thomas N. (1999). Reducing children's television viewing to prevent obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association, 282(16), 1561-1567.

[6] Robinson, Thomas N.; Saphir, Melissa Nichols; Kraemer, Helena C.; Varady, Ann; & Haydel, Farish K. (2001). Effects of reducing television viewing on children's requests for toys. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 22(3), 179-184.

[7] Spencer, Mima. (1991). What do parents need to know about children's television viewing? Available: http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00157/n00157.html

[8] Walsh, David. (1994). Selling out America's children: How America puts profits before values-and what parents can do. Minneapolis. MN: Fairview Press.