According to a study
conducted by the National
Institute on Media and Family,
children spend more time sitting in front of electronic screens than doing
any other activity besides sleeping.
According to the Kaiser Family
Foundation:
Two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch a screen an
average of 2 hours a day
Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of
screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs
Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day
in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer
(outside of schoolwork) and playing video games
Children who watch a lot of
television are likely to:
Have lower grades in school
Read fewer books
Exercise less
Be overweight
Benefits of Reduced Screen Time:
Reducing screen time can help
prevent childhood obesity
Children who spend less time
watching television in early years tend to do better in school, have a
healthier diet, be more physically active, and are better able to engage in
schoolwork in later elementary school years.
Television viewing at a young age is
associated with later behavioral problems but not if heavy viewing is
discontinued before age six.
Limiting exposure to television
during the first 4 years of life may decrease children’s interest in it in
later years.
Resources Provided by Commercial-Free Childhood