Television Isn’t Making Our Kids Fat
Jan 25, 2010
We all know that kids today are ‘online’ more than ever before, including phones, computers, TV’s and other electronic devices. What most of us don’t know is just how much time we’re really talking about. According to a recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, “the average young American spends practically every waking minute” using one of these sources. The numbers are shocking:
- Children between ages 8 and 18 spend more than 7 ½ hours a day online (not including the 1 ½ they spend texting or the 30 minutes they spend talking on the phone)
-When you take into account that many of these children use multiple online sources at once, they are actually getting 11 hours of media content in that 7 ½ hours
- 7 out of 10 children have a TV in their bedroom
-1 out of 3 children have a computer with Internet access in their bedroom
- The heaviest media users are African American children, Hispanic children and tweens
As the parent of four children ranging in age from 4 to 21, I am especially disturbed by these numbers. I don’t want my children to grow up to be couch potatoes, always glued to the newest video game or app with no interest in what’s going on outside of the online world. That being said, as pediatrician Dr. Michael Rich points out in a NY Times article, the time for arguing about the pros and cons of electronic media is over – it’s here to stay, and it’s only going to get more ubiquitous. Instead, the best thing we can do as parents is help our kids figure out how to manage it and use it for the greatest good.
It pisses me off when I hear people say, “Television is making my kid fat,” or “My kid’s grades in school dropped because of video games.” That’s not true. Bad parenting is to blame for those things! Social media has drastically changed our lives, for the most part for the better. Can any of us imagine our lives now without the Internet or cell phones? Of course not. Can we – even as adults – take those same things too far and allow them to take over our lives? Of course! As parents, we have to manage how our children spend their time. That means helping them create a balance between all the different things out there for them to take part in…and setting limits for them if lean too far in any one direction.
Instead of viewing the ‘online world’ as the enemy, we should embrace it. It’s here to stay. And I don’t know about you, but I’m happy there’s online tutorials that help me help my daughter with her science homework and an app that helps me remember which days my son has soccer practice. It enriches my life. Don’t you think it can do the same for our kids, with our help?
LINKS:
The NY Times – If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online
I agree this is extremely disturbing and that TV/Technology is not the root cause of this! My wife and I have set guidelines (how much time for Video’s, etc) for our 2 year old, that are important today, but will be increasingly important as he grows up. I am so passionate about this subject that my new business is focused on helping with this issue.
We need to teach our children how to balance their lives by our own example!
As the father of a soon to be 1 year old, I wonder about the digital world he is entering. He loves to “play” with my blackberry…and for now it is cute to watch him emulate his father. And he can be mesmerized by colors and action on TV. However, we have learned he is most engaged by REAL LIVE experiences. By the world outside of our home. As parents we are in control to make decisions and guide our children. Whatever examples we show them, they will follow. It is our job to be a good shepard for their lives.