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Children
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North Shore
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American children spend more time watching television than any other waking activity, spending up to 1000 hours in front of a TV in
a year, which does not include time spent in front of a computer screen. This “screen time” is having negative effects on children’s
learning, socialization skills, and attentional skills. Many people believe in the value of “educational” TV, DVD’s, and software, but
studies show that although programs are touted as useful for intellectual development, their value as educational tools is vastly
overstated. A recent study funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that many DVD’s and software advertised as
educational have not been proven to increase the IQ or cognitive abilities of the children who use them. The study calls that stricter
marketing standards be required of products that make claims of being legitimate educational tools. One major company
advertises its products as “created to give your child a jump start on learning”, while another claims that using the product will “turn
game time into brain time.” Since strict standards currently do not exist for the marketing and advertising of so-called educational
products, parents should be cautious. There is simply no compelling evidence that screen time increases a child’s knowledge or
skills beyond learning how to click a mouse or use a remote control.
Numerous studies in recent years have shown a correlation between TV habits and academic performance. The more television that
children watch, the lower their test scores, plain and simple. Jane Healy, a child development expert and author of “Endangered
Minds”, tells us that the brains of youngsters who spend lots of time in front of a TV set may be expected to develop differently. In
contrast, children who spend more time reading will develop what Healy calls “book minds”. Many families do not know where to
begin to reduce TV time, but taking it step by step works best. Children who are used to relaxing after school or evenings in front of
the tube will naturally balk at limits, so introduce changes gradually. Children need some time to find alternate things to do, and
parents need to trust that they will still be able to make dinner without always parking the kids in front of a screen first. Removing
the television from a child’s bedroom is challenging, but it is the first thing that should be addressed. Try taking it out on
weeknights, and returning it over the weekend. Once your child has developed some plans for alternate activities, remove the
television from his room for good. Replace it with a bookshelf, or an area with arts and crafts materials or board games. Your child
might be excited to pick out some markers or games in exchange for her television set.
Have your children make a list of their favorite television shows. Allow them to pick the shows that they enjoy the most, and
eliminate the shows that they care less about. Do not allow “channel surfing”. Children should choose the program that they wish
to watch, sit down at the start time, and turn off the TV when the program is over. Consider watching a show with your kids and
starting a discussion after the show is over. Always be aware of the content of the shows, and find out how much violence, sexuality,
and foul language they contain.
Talk to a neighbor or friend whose children do not watch much television, or who do not watch at all. Ask them how they do it!
Count computer time, DVD time, and certainly video game time as “screen time” and keep track of how many hours your child is
spending looking into a screen. Brainstorm with your children and come up with great ideas for things to do that involve movement,
using your hands, inventing things, and solving problems. Finally, setting a good example is key. If your kids see you watching too
much, they will want to do it, too. If the TV is constantly blaring in the background while you are eating dinner or doing chores,
consider turning on some music instead. Shut it off during dinner and encourage conversation.
Cutting down on screen time is a process may not be easy, but is well worth the effort.
a year, which does not include time spent in front of a computer screen. This “screen time” is having negative effects on children’s
learning, socialization skills, and attentional skills. Many people believe in the value of “educational” TV, DVD’s, and software, but
studies show that although programs are touted as useful for intellectual development, their value as educational tools is vastly
overstated. A recent study funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation concludes that many DVD’s and software advertised as
educational have not been proven to increase the IQ or cognitive abilities of the children who use them. The study calls that stricter
marketing standards be required of products that make claims of being legitimate educational tools. One major company
advertises its products as “created to give your child a jump start on learning”, while another claims that using the product will “turn
game time into brain time.” Since strict standards currently do not exist for the marketing and advertising of so-called educational
products, parents should be cautious. There is simply no compelling evidence that screen time increases a child’s knowledge or
skills beyond learning how to click a mouse or use a remote control.
Numerous studies in recent years have shown a correlation between TV habits and academic performance. The more television that
children watch, the lower their test scores, plain and simple. Jane Healy, a child development expert and author of “Endangered
Minds”, tells us that the brains of youngsters who spend lots of time in front of a TV set may be expected to develop differently. In
contrast, children who spend more time reading will develop what Healy calls “book minds”. Many families do not know where to
begin to reduce TV time, but taking it step by step works best. Children who are used to relaxing after school or evenings in front of
the tube will naturally balk at limits, so introduce changes gradually. Children need some time to find alternate things to do, and
parents need to trust that they will still be able to make dinner without always parking the kids in front of a screen first. Removing
the television from a child’s bedroom is challenging, but it is the first thing that should be addressed. Try taking it out on
weeknights, and returning it over the weekend. Once your child has developed some plans for alternate activities, remove the
television from his room for good. Replace it with a bookshelf, or an area with arts and crafts materials or board games. Your child
might be excited to pick out some markers or games in exchange for her television set.
Have your children make a list of their favorite television shows. Allow them to pick the shows that they enjoy the most, and
eliminate the shows that they care less about. Do not allow “channel surfing”. Children should choose the program that they wish
to watch, sit down at the start time, and turn off the TV when the program is over. Consider watching a show with your kids and
starting a discussion after the show is over. Always be aware of the content of the shows, and find out how much violence, sexuality,
and foul language they contain.
Talk to a neighbor or friend whose children do not watch much television, or who do not watch at all. Ask them how they do it!
Count computer time, DVD time, and certainly video game time as “screen time” and keep track of how many hours your child is
spending looking into a screen. Brainstorm with your children and come up with great ideas for things to do that involve movement,
using your hands, inventing things, and solving problems. Finally, setting a good example is key. If your kids see you watching too
much, they will want to do it, too. If the TV is constantly blaring in the background while you are eating dinner or doing chores,
consider turning on some music instead. Shut it off during dinner and encourage conversation.
Cutting down on screen time is a process may not be easy, but is well worth the effort.
| Limit Screen Time -- Open Doors to Literacy by Alicia Diozzi |