Ever wonder why TV is called the boob tube and not the Education Machine or the Idea Generator? According to the Nielsen Company and the Kaiser Family Foundation, American households watch more than eight hours a day of TV, and even most infants and toddlers watch at least two hours daily. Experts say that’s a problem, and parents must take the lead in correcting it.
What’s Wrong with TV?
Researchers find that too much TV causes several problems for children. “A huge concern is with brain development,” says Mary Strom Larson, a professor of communication at Northern Illinois University and author of Watch It! What Parents Need to Know to Raise Media-Smart Kids (Rainbow Books). Her research shows that a baby’s prefrontal cortex—“the part of the brain that deals with decision making and conscience and logic and judgment”—is largely “hard wired” by age four. Larson claims that children “develop [the prefrontal cortex] with interactions in the real world.” Time spent watching TV robs kids of the chance to develop these skills, and the window of opportunity is small, says Larson. “If they miss it, it’s too late.”
These lost opportunities may give rise to childhood aggression. Recent studies at SUNY-Albany and the University of Washington warn that toddlers who watch more than two hours of TV daily are more likely than other kids to exhibit aggressive behaviors and delayed language skills—even when watching “educational” programs.
Corinne Gregory agrees. She’s the founder of SocialSmarts, a program that teaches children positive social skills. Kids “don’t need more negative role modeling as ‘entertainment,’” Gregory says. “Life provides them enough of that.”
What Parents Can Do
Set Time Limits
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for children under age two, and a maximum of two hours daily for older children. Even if these guidelines don’t work for your family, setting limits of any kind sends kids the message that TV shouldn’t be a free-for-all.
Set Content Limits
Watch at least a few episodes of your child’s favorite programs. TV ratings can’t tell you whether the program is appropriate for your child. Afterward, talk about what you’ve watched together. Ask your kids: Do you think the hero made the right choice? What would you do in that situation? Such discussion helps kids understand stories and gives you a chance to express your own values.
No TVs in Bedrooms
The Nemours Foundation reports that kids who have TVs in their bedrooms “score significantly lower on standardized tests” than those without bedroom TVs. Keeping the television in a common living area lets you know exactly how many and what kind of programs your kids watch.
Use the VCR/DVR
Teaching kids to select programs instead of channel-surf both decreases the amount of TV watched and promotes a different attitude about television: It’s for entertainment, not background noise. And a stockpile of acceptable recorded programs lets parents schedule TV at convenient times (when Dad is trying to make dinner, for instance, or when kids need to wind down after daycare).
Don’t Leave It On 24/7
Work on using TV as the exception instead of the rule for family entertainment, says Mary Strom Larson. No one argues the fun of a bowl of popcorn and a Friday night movie. But if TV is a privilege, not a right, kids will be more selective about the shows they choose. And with the tube turned off, they might actually read a book, play outside or call a friend—and that’s something worth watching.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?
Encourage Interaction
Get involved with your kids. Read books aloud and discuss the stories. Play board games together. Have them help sort laundry, cook meals and do chores.
Get Outside Get kids off the couch and into the springtime!
These parks have some of the metro’s best (free!) hikes and playgrounds: Jacob L. Loose (51st St. & Wornall, Kansas City); Shawnee Mission (87th St. & Renner, Lenexa); English Landing (Hwy. 9 & Main, Parkville); and Overland Park Arboretum (179th St. near Antioch).
Control the Toys
All parents need a few minutes’ peace. Toddler-proof a play area and encourage independent play with blocks, picture books and music. Cover the table with newspaper and construction paper for a coloring station. (But always supervise little ones with crayons!)
Change the Routine
Instead of letting kids come home and flip on the TV, have them sit at the table and share a snack with you. Ask specific questions to generate conversation: What was the funniest thing that happened at school today? What did you make in art class?
Encourage Creativity
Kids of all ages enjoy artwork or playing a musical instrument. Schedule a trip to the hobby store. Kits abound for making jewelry, hooking rugs and constructing models.
Shawnee writer Claire M. Caterer writes frequently on parenting issues.