How closely do you monitor what your grade-schooler sees on TV and on the computer? With kids spending an average of more than 6 hours a day watching TV, playing videogames and going online, close supervision of kid's media consumption is more important than ever , says a recent commentary in a special child and adolescent health-themed issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
According to Victor Strasburger, MD, of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, media exposure can have a strong influence -- both negative and positive -- on children. Negative effects can include increased risk for violence, earlier sexual behavior, initiation into alcohol and cigarettes, and increased risk for obesity and eating disorders. On the other hand, experts point out that media can shape kids’ attitudes in a positive way, by emphasizing antiviolence attitudes, empathy, cooperation, tolerance and other socially constructive behaviors.
Experts like Dr. Strasburger recommend removing TV sets and internet connections from kids’ bedrooms and limiting “screen time” to no more than two hours a day. When you consider how little time there is after school to do homework, play with friends, read and do other non-media activities, limiting media access to two hours doesn’t sound unreasonable. Weekends can get trickier: Even when I schedule outdoor activities with my son, he can sometimes rack up an hour on the Wii and then maybe a movie in the evening with friends. But the point of the report, I think, is balance and close supervision which is something I’ve been able to do so far with my 8-year-old.
Do you always know what your child is watching? Does your grade-schooler have a TV in his or her bedroom? How much time does your child spend surfing online or playing videogames?
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