	We Can Help. 914-345-5900 • help@mhawestchester.org

Support > Positive Parenting > Parent Tip of the Week

Parent Tip of the Week: TV, Movies and Facts

Studies have shown that children who watch a lot of television and movies tend to perform worse academically, have a tendency toward being overweight or obese and are more likely to imitate actions that they see on TV, compared to children who watch less television and movies. See below for more important facts and figures related to children and TV exposure:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV or videos for children under the age of 2.
The chances of preschool children eventually developing ADD (attention deficit disorder) increases 10% with every hour of TV watched daily.
The foods featured on television are usually unhealthy (high in sugar and fat) and contribute to the obesity epidemic.
Violent entertainment is stored in the brain as if it were a real experience. This “memory” can negatively affect behavior.
Children and adolescents in the United States spend 22 to 28 hours a week watching TV. By the time they are 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years watching TV.

Have a tip you want to share? E-mail Jackie Hirschorn at hirschoj@mhawestchester.org with your Parent Tip of the Week!

This material has been adapted by MHA from materials of the ACT (Adults and Children Together Against Violence) program developed by the American Psychological Association (APA), a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States.

Return to the top of the page.