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TV Time Linked to Psyche Problems in Kids



Any parent knows the television conundrum: Children's shows can be entertaining and educational, but the benefits can quickly drop off as kids spend more and more time staring at the screen. A new study expands on the effects of TV on children, revealing that kids who get too much screen time in front of the TV or computer seem to become more susceptible to psychological problems.

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The details: More than 1,000 children ages 10 to 11 years old took part in a study with University of Bristol researchers on the effects of screen time. The kids self-reported their TV and computer habits, answered questionnaires, and also wore accelerometers to help researchers measure the amount of time they spent being sedentary or physically active. Researchers found that psychological difficulties such as hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention, social problems, and conduct issues were highest in the children who had two or more hours of screen time per day. These problems were even worse in the children who also didn't meet physical activity guidelines.

What it means: This is one more reason for parents to pay close attention to the time their kids spend in front of the television, computer, and game console. Other research has linked screen time to childhood obesity, stress, and negative effects on verbal development. A study released this summer found that cutting down on kids' TV time leads to more time exercising and being active. (Too much TV isn't that great for adults, either, by the way.)

How leaving the TV on can affect your child's brain.

Study researcher Angie Page, PhD, explains that the educational uses of computers or television don't tend to fall within screen time limits recommended by children's health experts. "These guidelines generally refer to screen entertainment, so do not necessarily include school work," says Page.

As you start paring down your children's TV and computer time, consider the following tips:

Study: What an overweight kid really needs.

Kids under 2 years old should not watch any TV, according to recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics.

Children over 2 years of age should follow current U.S. guidelines, and get two hours or less per day of total screen viewing (non-school-related TV and computer time), limited to quality programming.

Remember that it's not an all-or-nothing deal. There is no evidence that low levels of screen viewing are associated with negative health outcomes. Negotiate with kids. The two-hour limit offers a platform for negotiation with children, so parents can leverage the TV and computer time with homework and chores.

Wean kids off of too much TV by helping them plan their weekly screen time allowance. Helping kids know what they want to watch ahead of time can help parents keep firm limits, and teaches kids that they don't have to automatically turn on the TV and find something to watch.

Keep books, magazines, art supplies, and board games in the TV room so that other options are always available.

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