Released Jan. 28, 2008

STILLWATER, Okla. – The selection for televisions these days seems endless – wide screen, jumbo screen, plasma screen even flat screens. When it comes to television time for children the viewing time could seem endless as well.

“The influence of media on children dramatically influences children at all ages,” said Debbie Richardson, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service parenting assistant specialist. “Television in particular plays a key role in the lives and development of children and begins very early in life.”

Recent studies show that about one-third of children in the United States live in homes in which the television is on most of each day. Some type of screen media is used by more than 83 percent of young children between ages 6 months and 6 years, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report.

About two-thirds of infants and toddlers under age 2 now use screen media with nearly half watching television every day. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children under age 2 should not watch television or other screen media at all. No more than one or two hours are recommended for children older than 2 years.

By the time children are 4 to 6 years of age, 90 percent use screen media for about two hours of viewing time on average per day. More and more children at these ages now have other media besides television in their lives, such as a DVD player, computer or video games. On average, youth between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of six hours per day watching media including television, videos or DVDs, the computer and video games.

Richardson said heavy screen time in homes has been reported to have some significant effects on preschool children’s development, including reading less, learning to read later and lower scores on reading proficiency tests. Also, their risk for obesity and unhealthy eating has been shown to increase, as well as a greater likelihood of attention problems.

On the other hand, viewing educational programs as preschoolers has been associated with higher grades, reading more books, greater creativity and less aggression.

Parents are an important influence on their children’s media habits. Richardson suggests the following tips to help parents tame the tube:

• Avoid using the television as a babysitter.

• Move the television so it is not the center of the family room or in a child’s bedroom.

• Schedule times for viewing and turn off the TV otherwise.

• Limit children’s viewing to one to two hours per day.

• Select programs appropriate for the child’s developmental level.

• Offer other options – play games, read, be creative and active.

• Know what the children are watching.

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http://www2.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/katie.reim-40okstate.edu/children-and-tv-find-a-balance

Contacts: Keith Collins, (318) 728-3216, kcollins@agcenter.lsu.edu

Mary Ann Van Osdell, (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu