Nielson’s Report on Kids and TV Viewing - Are They Asking the Right Questions?

Nielson tells us that toddlers are now spending over 32 hours a week in front of the TV. I'm not sure what scares me most…the media hype, the idea that some kids must be in front of the TV MORE than 32 hours for that to be an average, or the thought that many of these kids are sitting there alone.

Are We Asking the Right Question? 

Thirty-two hours “in front of the TV” sounds shocking, doesn't it? What that really works out to is three hours a day during the week and four hours a day on the weekend. That includes DVR, DVD, VCR and Game Consoles. I'm a little worried that kids between 2 and 5 are playing video games at all, but hey, these are not my kids.  The real question should be, “How many hours are children spending alone in front of the TV?”

TV Zombies? 

Let's put this whole thing into context. No one can tell me that my child's brain is going on autopilot while he's watching TV.  I see his facial expressions change with the story line. His eyes light up, he gets excited, and he dances and sings along. It does not look like a mindless activity to me.  I don't imagine your toddler is any different. But are you there to see all this brain activity?

Just Be There 

No one really sets a standard for the 2-5 year old group and television limits. What experts do tell us, though, is how to watch TV with our kids. All you have to do is actually be there with your child, maybe talk about the story line a little. Instead of using the TV for a babysitter so you can get some chores done, let your toddler help. Toddlers love to help, or even just pretend to help. The point is that the hours your child spends watching television are much less important than who they spend those hours with.

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