How much tv do kids watch

While screens can entertain, teach, and keep children occupied, too much use may lead to problems. Parents may not always know what their children are viewing, or how much time they are spending with screens.

Children may be exposed to:. Your child is never too young for a screen-time plan. Consider the following as a guideline:. Boys spend more time playing console video games, while girls spend more time on music and social media. Kids under 9 spend more than 2 hours a day on screens, report shows. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen media use for children younger than 18 months to video chatting.

For older children, it advises that parents choose high-quality content and watch it with their children to help them understand what they're seeing. Moreover, the academy says that screen media use should not interfere with children's sleep and exercise routines.

Give choices between 2 programs you think are appropriate for your child. Limit screen time to 1 or 2 hours a day for children older than 2 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years should not watch digital media. Watch programs with your child. Talk about what happened on the show. Talk about what was good or bad about the program. Talk about the difference between reality and make-believe.

Turn off the TV or other device if the program is something you believe your child should not see. In , the Nielsen Co. Children ages 2 to 5 watched TV for more than 32 hours a week.

Kids ages 6 to 8 spent 28 hours per week in front of the tube, most likely because they were in school, explains Nielsen. The Kaiser Family Foundation also conducted research on the media habits of children ages 8 to Television viewing is a major contributor to childhood obesity, which is rapidly rising in America and internationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Obesity can put your child at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high-blood pressure later in life. Television negatively affects your child in other ways, too.