Children and Technology
Nancy Peterka, Parent Educator

As parents we want the best for our children and in the age of technology it is hard to determine what that is.  Our children’s world will revolve around technology that much is certain, but how can we teach them to use it most successfully?

Facts and Research Regarding Television:

• American children, ages 2 to 17, watch television on average almost 25 hours per week or 3 ½ hours a day. Almost one in five watch more that 35 hours of TV each week (Gentile and Walsh, 2002).
• According to parents, children, between the ages of 2 and 17, spend almost 6 ½ hours a day in front of electronic screens (TV, video games, computers and cell phones) (Woodard, 2000).
• Twenty percent of 2 to 7 year-olds have TVs in their bedrooms (Gentile & Walsh, 2002).
• Children spend more time watching television than any other activity except sleeping.
• Studies have shown that children who watch carefully constructed educational programs that are aimed at their age level (such as Sesame Street), do better on pre-reading skills (at age 5) than children who watched infrequently or not at all (MacBeth, 1996, Wright, et al., 2001).
• These same studies further show that children who watch cartoons or other purely entertainment television shows during their pre-school years, do poorer on pre-reading skills at age 5 (MacBeth, 2001).
• The average American child may view as many as 40,000 television commercials every year (Strasburger, 2001).
• Children as young as age 3 recognize brand logos (Fischer, 1991), with brand loyalty influence starting at age 2 (McNeal, 1992).
• A recent study found that children who watch more than 3 hours of TV a day are 50 % more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours. Theses researchers conclude that “more than 60% of overweight incident can be linked to excess TV viewing (Tremblay, 2003).
• In a study of children 1-4 years of age, a child’s risk of being overweight increased by 6% for every hour of TV watched per day. If that child had a TV in their bedroom, the odds of being overweight jumped an additional 31% for every hour watched. Preschool children with TVs in their bedroom watched an additional 4.8 hours of TV or videos every week (Dennison, et al., 2002).

According to Jim Trelease in the "Read-Aloud Handbook", TV is the direct opposite of reading and it deprives the child of his/her most important leaning tool: asking questions. TV interrupts the most important language lesson in a child’s life: family conversation and stifles a child’s imagination and discourages creative play.

The Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Pediatrics Link Too Much Screen Time to:

• Obesity. Children who watch more than 2 hours of TV a day are more likely to be overweight.
• Irregular sleep. The more TV children watch, the more likely they are to resist going to bed and to have trouble falling asleep.
• Behavior problems. Children who watch excessive amounts of TV are more likely to bully, have attention problems, and show signs of depression or anxiety than children who don’t.
• Less time for play. Excessive screen time leave less time for active, creative play.

The first years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing and interacting with parents and others, which encourages leaning and healthy physical and social development. With the above  research in mind, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting a child’s use of TV, movies, video and computer games to no more than one or two hours a day and no screen time for infants up to age two.  Now how do we accomplish that goal?

Ideas to Help Families be Successful:

• Eliminate background TV. If the TV is turned on, even if it’s just in the background, it’s likely to draw your child’s attention. If you’re not actively watching a show, turn off the TV.
• Keep TV’s and computers out of the bedroom. Monitor your child’s screen time by keeping computers and TVs in a common area in your house.
• Don’t eat in front of the TV. Allowing your child to eat or snack in front of the TV increases his or her screen time. The habit also encourages mindless munching, which can lead to weight gain.
• Set a good example. Be a good role model and limit your own screen time.
• Set some guidelines about when and what children watch.
• Talk to your child about what he or she is watching and watch with your child.

TV and technology are here to stay, let’s use it to our best advantage. TV and computers can be an asset to our children if we as parents understand the ramifications of its use and use it wisely.  It is well worth the effort.

Additional Resources:

http://www.aap.org
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu
http://www.kidshealth.org
http://www.MediaFamily.org
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://www.naeyc.org
http://www.zerotothree.org