Children Spend Twice As Much Time With the TV As They Do In School

By Mark Hoerrner

It seems an inevitable conclusion that most American children will, at some point, come in contact with a televised program, but the exposure is rarely that limited. Children in this country spend an average of 900 hours a year in school, but spend more than 1500 hours a year watching television, according to the A.C. Neilson Co. The average child will spend more than 30 hours per week parked in front of a TV. Shocking statistics on their own, they only convey the importance of the role television will play in shaping the values, thoughts, and attitudes of a child. Contrast this with the fact that the same Neilson study discovered that parents spend an average of only 3.5 minutes a day in meaningful conversation with their children, and the need to understand—and more importantly, manage—television viewing habits becomes paramount.

Television, like any contemporary communication medium, is a lot like a set of paints left open in your living room. Unsupervised and untrained, children are likely to make a splendid mess. However, through channeling a child’s intellect and creativity by turning viewing into an active rather than a passive event, a parent can help the child learn to create a masterpiece. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) calls television the "child’s window to the world," but it takes parental involvement to open that window and engage a child in viewing quality television.

We know from psychologists like Albert Bandura that children learn by modeling the actions and behaviors of others, and this applies not only to what children will see on the screen, but also in viewing the actions of their parents when it comes to television. Researchers like Dr. Bradley Greenberg of Michigan State University have also said that children will use what they view on television as their "primary source of conflict resolution." Let children take in a steady diet of the wrong shows, and children may learn to deal with their problems in inappropriate ways. But Greenberg believes that television can be an exceptional teaching tool, noting that "some children have learning styles that allow them to get more out of an hour of quality educational television than four hours of classroom lecture."

So what steps can a parent take to ensure that television doesn’t rule their child’s life?

Take control. From the earliest age of a child, the parent needs to decide what the child will watch on television and when. Take time to read all available online and print reviews of shows and make a determination about the appropriateness of a show for your child. When you don’t feel a show is fit for your child, tell them why. Let them know that you feel certain entertainment is geared for older children. Remember that many shows now carry ratings related to the content, and some are even age-group recommended.

Watch television with your child. Taking time to sit down and watch what your child watches not only gives you an idea of the things they find fascinating, but it gives you a chance to ask questions about certain situations in shows and to reinforce your values throughout the viewing. For example, you can explain that animated characters can do things outside the realm of reality that real people can’t do, giving the child a better understanding of the line between human limitations and fantasy entertainment. This also communicates to your child that you are interested in more than simply establishing parental limits—you are genuinely interested in the things they enjoy.

Use all of the technology available. One of the easiest ways for parents to control viewing habits is to have on hand a supply of recorded material appropriate for the child. Also, with current developments in technology, parents have more resources available to them than in past years.

"Those who watch over children these days have a lot of options with the latest inventions for television," Greenberg says. "With the advent of TiVo and satellite-based television controls, parents can filter out commercials and even lock out all but the channels specifically chosen by the parent."

Never allow television to replace other family activities. While television can be beneficial to the learning development of a child, outdoor experiences, social play with other children, and one-on-one time with parents is always a better choice of activity.

With many studies identifying television viewing as one of the contributors to a nationwide epidemic of obesity in children, active play and physical exertion should be encouraged on a regular basis. Television should be a tool used for education and periodic entertainment, not a daily necessity for a child’s happiness.