Two-year-olds who watch too much television are at risk for problems when they are in fourth grade, according to a new study from the University of Montréal.
- Dr. Linda Pagani and her colleagues tracked 1,300 children for seven years, asking their parents how much television the children were watching when they were aged two and four years old.
- The researchers again surveyed the parents and teachers of the children when they were 10 years old.
- Every hour spent in front of television per week at age two corresponded to a 7% decrease in classroom engagement, a 6% decrease in math achievement, and a 10% increase in being bullied by classmates.
- Watching television was also associated with declines in physical activity, increased consumption of soft drinks and snacks, and being overweight.
No one knows why television has these negative effects. Some experts believe that it actually harms developing brains; and others believe that it takes up time that could be spent in more productive activity.
Critics of the study, which appeared in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, noted that Dr. Pagani did not take into account the kind of programs the children were watching
If your child is spending too much time in front of a TV on a computer, you may want to check out these tips for reducing children's screen time.
Posted By: Aspen Education Group