A study published in the May 2010 issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine associates kids' viewing habits at 29 months of age with some disturbing statistics. Researchers studied 1314 children and analyzed parent reports of time spent watching TV at 29 months against parent and teacher reports of academic, psychosocial, and health behaviors and body mass index measurements at 10 years of age. For every additional hour of TV kids watched as Toddlers, researchers found:
- a 7% decrease in classroom engagement
- a 6% decrease in math achievement
- a 10% increase in "victimization" by classmates
- a 13% decrease in time spent doing weekend physical activity
- a 9% higher consumption consumption score for soft drinks and 10% higher consumption score for snacks
- a 5% increase in BMI
The study reports that these findings are adjusted for "preexisting individual and family factors." I am looking forward to reading through the whole study and finding out exactly which factors they adjusted for and how. I also wonder what types of shows the kids were watching and if that made any difference. I guess it's just the psychologist in me wanting to figure out all of the different elements that go into findings such as these. Clearly, though, lifestyle and habit choices impact kids in a major way, so it's vital to establish healthy viewing habits at a young age. Also, About.com Guide to Family Fitness Catherine Holecko has a take on this study with a lot of links to tips on establishing healthy, active habits from a young age.
How much TV does your toddler watch, and how do you think it will effect him or her in years to come?
Family Films
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