Would you believe that young children ages 2–5 watch more than 32 hours of TV a week? That’s according to a recent study conducted by the Nielsen Company. That means that every week toddlers spend more than one full day—all 24-plus hours of it—in front of the TV watching shows or movies or playing video games. Even older children ages 6–11 watch four or more hours of TV a day. These numbers are up from previous years, and it’s a disturbing trend.

        The TV may make a convenient babysitter when you have toddlers, but if your children spend this much time watching TV each week, it’s hurting their bodies, their minds, and their development.

What’s the Problem with Too Many Hours?

        During the toddler years, the human brain develops significantly. Young children learn how to interact physically with their environment and socially with other children and with adults. And as discussed in last month’s article, “The Early Years Are Critical Learning Years,” most brain connections are formed during early childhood, and this determines how well a child can learn in the future. (Editor’s note: The article is archived at http://www.treasurevalleyfamily.com/education.) Too much time in front of the TV can stunt this important growth.

        TV also interferes with the development of school-age children. It displaces time they could spend doing more productive activities like reading a good book, hanging out with friends, or enjoying their family.

        Too much TV carries other risks, too.

        Kids who watch TV for more than four hours a day are at higher risk of becoming overweight. And according to a study published in Pediatrics, more than two hours of television a day can contribute to the development of attention deficit problems.

        Depending on what they are viewing, too much TV can trigger aggressive behaviors in some children while fueling insecurities in others.

        Much of the programming on television also counters the values you likely try to teach your children. You say, “Don’t drink,” but they see kids on TV doing it and making it look fun. You say, “Girls can do anything they put their minds to,” only to have that message undermined by gender stereotypes on TV.

        Limiting TV hours for both toddlers and older children is an important step, but if TV is a habit in your household, it can be a tough step to take.

Do an Assessment

        Begin adjusting your children’s relationship with the TV by doing an assessment. Track the hours of TV that they watch each day. If they tend to watch TV while you’re not present, either ask them to note the time or talk to them about the shows they watched, which will give you a good estimate of how much time they spent.

        You might discover that your kids aren’t watching too much TV, but it’s more likely you’ll be surprised at how much time they actually do spend watching. If that’s the case, your next step is to come up with limits on their TV time and to provide alternative activities that will entertain and educate them.

Setting Limits Without a Fight

        TV is an addictive habit. It allows the mind to relax and enjoy images and stories. It doesn’t require any commitment or work on the part of the viewer other than a willingness to be entertained. Like any addiction or bad habit, it will be hard to break, so expect some grumbling from your kids at the bare minimum.

        To make the transition to less TV time as easy as possible, set clear limits and talk to your kids about what you expect of them.

        Begin by determining the way you will limit TV time for your children. Will the weekdays be TV-free unless you watch a show together as a family? Will each child be allowed to pick one program to watch a day? Will TV time for each child be limited to one or two hours in a day? What about  educational programming, some of which can be quite entertaining? Check out offerings on Idaho Public Television, Biography, the History Channel, Discovery, etc.

        Next, consider what the consequences will be if your children violate the limits you set on TV time. Will they lose all TV privileges for the week? Will they be grounded? Will they forfeit their allowance?

        Discuss the limits you establish with your children and explain why you are setting them. Let them know exactly the consequences if they break those limits. Remember, they may not like the new limits and they may argue. Don’t cave in. Hold fast to what you’ve established and know that those limits have your children’s health and interest at their heart.

        Emphasize your respect and concern for your children’s well-being and provide positive outcomes when they respect the limits you establish—more family time is a natural positive consequence that will flow out of fewer hours spent in front of the TV.

Alternatives to Tube Time

        Breaking the TV habit becomes much easier when you have a number of fun alternatives. You will find that your children embrace these activities even more enthusiastically if you sometimes take a break and spend time doing these activities with them.

Crafts: Craft time doesn’t have to take a lot planning or preparation. It can be as simple as tearing up colored construction paper into different shapes and letting your children make colorful collages by gluing the shapes to a large sheet of paper.

Games and Outdoor Activities: Whether you play board games indoors or go for a rousing game of tag in the backyard, games are a perfect way to entertain kids without relying on the TV. Many games require physical activity or mental strategy, so they are healthy in more ways than one.

Puzzles and Books: Puzzles and books are good, quiet activities. Do a puzzle together as a family and you may be surprised at how much you learn about each other. Read aloud to each other or ask your children to tell you their favorite parts of the books they are reading.

Conversation: Keep the TV off for an evening and just sit around and talk. If you need some help coming up with topics, do a web search for “family conversation starters” or investigate the game “TableTopics,”  or “Meanings in Motion,” previewed in the February issue of Treasure Valley Family Magazine.

Imaginative Play: Young children love to use their imaginations when they play. They will invent whole dramas set in far-off lands that they’ll enjoy acting out together or with you. Just give them the time and space and maybe a few props and it’s likely they’ll entertain themselves for hours. 

        If you run out of ideas for how to keep your kids busy and happy without turning the television on, just make a quick trip to your local library. I guarantee they have no shortage of books filled with ideas that will help you and your family have more TV-free fun than you dreamed possible.

Heather Robson is a local freelance writer with a passion for healthy families. You can send her questions and comments at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .