Children who view as little as 3 hours of television per day could be at risk of behavioral problems, depression and increased aggression. And children at highest risk for these three factors tend to be classified as heavy television viewers.

Children who reported watching greater amounts of television per day (more than 6 hours) had significantly higher total trauma symptom scores than children who reported watching less than 5 hours of television per day. Two thirds of the students reported watching at least 3 hours of television daily; more than one third watched 5 or more hours of television per day and approximately one fifth watched at least 6 hours per day.

Dr. Singer also said in an interview that 70% of the children surveyed had access to cable or satellite television, regardless of whether or not they lived in rural or urban areas. Studies have shown that cable TV carries shows with very violent content.

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1998;37:1041-1048.

COMMENT:

I was really surprised to see that kids are watching so much TV. This is a national tragedy. It will be virtually impossible to raise our children to become responsible adults with so much brain washing from the this amount of television.

I understand the reasons for it. Our culture is moving faster and faster. Progress never relents and it captures a good percentage of our free time. One of the best recommendations I can give you and your family is to limit the TV. I really believe it should be under five hours per week, and hopefully even lower than that. There are so many better things to do in life than waste it in front of a TV set.