Not only does exposure to television have no proven benefits for children under the age of 2, but it has been shown to have potentially disastrous effects on the well-being of 3-year-olds, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and other paediatric health agencies.
TV has 'no proven benefits' for kids under 2-years-old
The first 3 years is a critical time for brain growth. That is when babies and small children need to interact with their parents, eye to eye and not with a screen insists psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman, author of a book on the subject.
Teens in the UK and US are known to spend an average of between 6 and 8 hours a day in front of a screen. Medical professionals say that the risks of heart disease and obesity increase dramatically after just 2 hours.
"You're over the limit, sir"
The RCPCH report is prompting recommendations that doctors should create a standard time limitation on the length of time spent watching TV, in the same way that doctors have measured alcohol levels, and then isolated a specific point at which alcohol intake becomes potentially hazardous.
Having a TV on in the background is just as negative as direct viewing, apparently, and recommendations for reducing TV-related health risks include:
What do you think should be the time limit on TV viewing during the week?
TV has 'no proven benefits' for kids under 2-years-old
The first 3 years is a critical time for brain growth. That is when babies and small children need to interact with their parents, eye to eye and not with a screen insists psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman, author of a book on the subject.
Teens in the UK and US are known to spend an average of between 6 and 8 hours a day in front of a screen. Medical professionals say that the risks of heart disease and obesity increase dramatically after just 2 hours.
"You're over the limit, sir"
The RCPCH report is prompting recommendations that doctors should create a standard time limitation on the length of time spent watching TV, in the same way that doctors have measured alcohol levels, and then isolated a specific point at which alcohol intake becomes potentially hazardous.
Having a TV on in the background is just as negative as direct viewing, apparently, and recommendations for reducing TV-related health risks include:
- Not having the TV on all the time.
- Limited viewing times.
- No TV in the bedroom.
- Parents modelling better TV habits.
- Providing children with an alternative to screen-based entertainment.
What do you think should be the time limit on TV viewing during the week?