Television has a tremendous influence on how children view our world. Most youngsters spend more hours watching TV from birth to age 18 than they spend in the classroom. A positive aspect of TV viewing can be the opportunity to see different life-styles and cultures. In addition, TV has great entertainment value. While TV can be a good source of instruction, most children watch TV excessively and experience some of the negative consequences described below. Many of these same concerns apply to video games, computer games and exposure to the Internet.

Harmful Aspects of Television

Preventing Television / Media Addiction

In summary, limited TV viewing for the older child can be an entertaining and educational experience. As with most matters, however, too much of a “good thing” can be detrimental.