Television is an important part of American media and culture. In an abounding country of more than 300 million people, television programs are some of the few things that nearly all Americans can share nationally. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television, and the majority of households have more than one. There are about 73 million TVs in America. Sociologists have declared watching TV to be the most common human activity after work and sleep. Clearly, television has become an essential facet of contemporary culture. In fact, it could be argued that the television is the “centerpiece” of the personal lives of the inhabitants of the modern world. The furniture in homes is arranged around the television, lives are scheduled by television programming, and the TV has become a friend, companion and even babysitter.Research indicates that the average

household spends almost eight hours a day watching TV. Although that sounds a little excessive, the numbers include the entire household concurrently.

Kids today are growing up immersed in electronic media in this country, starting at the youngest ages. Most children plug into the world of television long before they enter school.
Seventy percent of child-care facilities provide TV viewing during a typical day. In a year, the average child spends 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV. A Kaiser Family Foundation study revealed that children age 6 and under spend an average of two hours a day playing video games, using computers and watching TV and videos. That amount is about three times the average 49 minutes spent reading or being read to.

Of course, television in moderation can be a good thing. Preschoolers can get help learning
the alphabet on television, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. No doubt about it – TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer. With all the new programming for children under 2, such as baby sign language and Baby Einstein videos, parents feel that their kids might benefit from some guided TV watching, although childcare experts say that no evidence to date shows the benefits of this kind of programming on very young children. Studies have proven that educational programs like Sesame Street can aid learning for older children. But few studies have focused on developmental outcomes for children under 3.

Despite its advantages, too much television can be detrimental. So how much TV is too much, especially when it comes to our children? The AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics, and child care experts are pretty unanimous when it comes to TV watching. They suggest that before age 2, kids shouldn’t watch TV at all, and that kids older than 2 watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming. According to Kids Health, kids in the United States watch an average of four hours of TV a day — double the recommended
maximum.

Rather than watch TV, John Barton Augustyniak pretends to cook on his toy grill while Mom cooks dinner.

The first two years of a child’s life is a critical time for brain development. TV can get in the way of exploring, learning and spending time interacting and playing with parents and others, which help a young child gain the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally. Studies in the past have linked prolonged TV viewing to obesity in children, poor sleep patterns, and later adult violence. Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes, and has a negative impact on children’s reading abilities. Kids with a screen in their bedroom or who live in a household where the TV is always on are less likely to be able to read by age 6.

The AAP says parents should set limits on how much and what children can watch. They also recommend choosing programs carefully and helping kids find other options, such as learning a sport or musical instrument. Unless you don’t own a TV set, it might be hard to enforce a completely TV-less existence, especially if there are older siblings in the home.

Working mothers have become the norm in our country. More than 72 percent of American mothers work outside the home. And in 61 percent of American families, both parents work. With thousands of mothers and families pressured by the growing demands of work while trying to care for children, and with 61 percent of children under age 1 watching TV, it
appears most parents are yielding to practicality rather than expert advice.

Becky Augustyniak, human resources coordinator at Hughston Hospital here in Columbus is a full-time mom with a full-time job. She and her husband Mark have a 4- year-old son, John Barton. Because both parents have a full-time job, John Barton spends the majority of his day at Generations Day Care Center. Nine hours of his day is spent learning and interacting with other children. He is learning his letters and numbers and the highlight of his day is returning home and telling his parents all the new things he learned for the day. Augustyniak said that since hespends so much time on weekdays being active in school, she doesn’t mind him sitting in front of the TV for a couple of hours in the evenings. “He usually watches the Disney channel or PBS for about a half hour in the morning while I get ready for work, and requests one of his favorite videos when he gets home,” she stated.

John Barton has plenty of toys and activities to keep him busy as he often plays with his trains, trucks and building blocks while his video runs in the background. He even has his own grill set so he can cook while mommy cooks. As far as leading by example, Augustyniak said she rarely watches TV. “By the time I get home from work, prepare dinner, bathe John Barton, do laundry, pay bills, I am ready to fall into bed. Who has the time?”

On the weekends they like to spend family time outdoors visiting Flat Rock Park, Callaway Gardens and Pine Mountain. John Barton loves to be outside, and can find hours of enjoyment with a partner and a ball. While the Augustyniaks aren’t overly concerned with their child’s viewing time, they are aware of exactly what their child is watching, how much time he spends watching television and makes sure he has plenty of other activities available to stimulate him.

Television may be an inevitable part of young children’s lives. Although some media researchers and pediatricians recommend that parents minimize their children’s exposure, it may be more useful to think about how TV does or does not fit into your child’s overall
development. They offer several ways to enhance and limit your child’s TV viewing time. Keep TVs out of your child’s bedroom, turn off the TV during meals, and don’t allow your child to watch TV while doing homework. Be choosy about the shows you and your child watch. Read online and print reviews of shows, looking for shows that are appropriate for your child’s age and stage of development, and for shows that you can watch together as a family. And by
all means, set a good example by limiting your own TV viewing.

It’s important to make sure the media they use not only cause no harm to your children’s development, but actually enhance it. Make watching TV an active experience rather than a passive one by doing things like repeating words or phrases you hear during the show. Encourage your children to sing and dance along with the characters and talk to them about what they see and hear. Offer fun alternatives to television. Stock the room with plenty of other entertainment options like books, kid’s magazines, toys, puzzles and board games to
encourage your child to do something other than watch the tube.