Limiting Screen Time For Children

The main reason we watch TV is for entertainment where we can view shows and movies. Shows and movies expose individuals to a variety of cultures and values that they do not see often. Another use of television is for information such as news, political views, and advertisements. Televisions inform us of news around our community and world, and also persuade us in buying products or donating money to a cause. An ongoing controversy has risen such tha televisions can be harmful to children because of the vulgar language and violence shown through modern day shows or even celebrities. Viewing too much television can be time consuming and may even discourage children to go play outside and be social. Watching the newscast has changed my life by informing me of the violence that goes on throughout my community. Also, a negative effect of watching too much television has taken up my time when I could have been doing more productive tasks.

Also, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a study in 2004, 16 percent of children that are between the ages of six and nineteen years of age are overweight or obese. This is a number that has nearly tripled since 1980, mostly due to technological usage. Being overweight can bring with it great health concerns. Many of these children have a chance of developing Type II Diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, social discrimination, high cholesterol and/or blood pressure. Moreover, according to a Stanford University of Medicine study, elementary students consume 20 percent of their daily calorie intake while watching television, which usually includes unhealthy snacks, largely due to advertisements for junk food and boredom. Coincidently, kids are not burning off any of these calories while they are plopped in front of the television.

Facebook, Snapchat, Kik, Twitter, Instagram, and gaming sites are all good until something bad happens. Author Harlan Coben writer of “The Undercover Parent”, believes parents should monitor their children's software. Even though children find software useful, parents should monitor their kids software because children can be cyber bullied. Children can also be in danger of pedophiles .

The rate of childhood obesity has raised over the years with the current breakthrough in entertainment technology. The rise in childhood obesity cases has been linked to the over usage of entertainment technologies. There was a study done by the CDC showing that children aged 12 to 15 years whom play and or watch 4 or more hours of television or playing video games a lot of which were obese. Very few children that were over that threshold of obesity only 20% of which limited their screen time to 2 hours a day rather than 31% of their regular weight friends.

In 'Kids and screen time: What does the research say?' Juana Summers explains the negative effect on children spending so much time in front of T.V screens. In doing so knocks down their ability to recognize emotions in accordance to the new research from the University of California Angeles. She mentioned that the study published in the journal 'Computers in human behavior' spoke about how five days without exposure to technology sixth graders were more likely to read human emotions then the children who had access to different means of technology. The difference between kids who are not regularly around technology seem to be more intuitive then those who are to wrapped up in electronic devices. Although I lean towards children without, the question really is are children really better off with, or without and what are the downfalls and benefits?

In the article “TV’s Negative Influence on Kids Reaffirmed” by Jeffrey M. McCall, he addresses the issue of how TV has a negative influence on children. McCall states that young children and toddler’s cognitive ability does not develop as well when they have television in the background while they are playing. McCall also argues that TV has a very influential role in the teen pregnancy rate and how early teens become sexually active. To further prove his point, McCall proclaims that children and teens that are exposed to too much Television and video games become socially awkward and have trouble interacting in society. McCall also says that the networks are rating their own programs carelessly which is leading to shows that should be blocked

Technology is more advanced every day and seems to be a major reason why kids stop going out for a run or being involved in activities burning off calories and energy. Research informs that a child in America spends 7 hours or more in front of an electronic device. Also according to a review in Obesity in 2012 a lot of screen time may increase obesity risk. Over time technology and an increase in snacks combined will lead to a significant weight gain.

These problems can be connected to television because in the modern age screens sap away the majority of Americans’ time, leading to the neglect of exercise and an absence of stimulating brain activity; this is best reiterated in the quote, “A report released by research firm ChildWise suggests that…children spend more time in front of a screen in one day than they spend exercising in the entire week” (Thomas 2011 n.p). The first way that television can negatively impact American health is that it has been proven to be a prominent reason for the rise of obesity. “Researchers…found children who watched just one hour of television a day were 50 to 60 percent more likely to be overweight and 58 to 73 percent more likely to be obese, compared to kids who watched less than an hour” (Olson 2015 n.p). With weight issues, however, Americans are at higher risks to develop even worse problems such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, cancer, osteoarthritis, stroke, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (CDC 2015 n.p). Along with physical health complications come mental difficulties that can be traced back to television as well. According to the latest scientific studies done by neuroscientists in Japan, “Brain imaging (MRI) shows anatomical changes inside children’s brains after prolonged TV

In the precedent few years, Type 2 diabetes has risen radically among children and adolescents. Experts consider this increase is due to the high rate of overweight and obesity (Cutting TM, Fisher JO, Grimm-Thomas K, Birch LL1999). One of the core reasons of children obesity is watching television. Technology is a vast accessory that millions of people use commonly in daily life. Television could be the most-used technological product of all. Millions of people now have as a minimum one television in their home. Though television seems like an immense thing to have, it has its disadvantages. Television can pessimistically influence people, mainly kids. A number of observational studies have originated an association between television watching and child and adolescent obesity. Moreover, it is recognized that American children spend more time watching television and playing video games than doing something else apart from sleeping. Researchers conducted a randomized, controlled test to assess the effects of reducing television, videotape, and video game use on changes in adiposity, physical activity, and dietary intake (Fisher JO, Birch LL. 1995). “The previous twenty five years have caused such a spectacular increase in childhood obesity. Technology, overeating and lack of physical activity can all contribute to obesity”. Birch LL, Fisher JO. Development of eating behaviors among children and adolescents. Pediatr

The International Health Behavior in School Children survey revealed that the U.S. has the highest rate of obesity in school age children at an alarming 26%. It was the lowest in the Netherlands at 6% and in Ireland it was 16 %. Unfortunately, children who are obese at an early age are more likely to carry it with them into adulthood. Other concerns that have occurred due to increased screen time and obesity are sleep apnea, cardiovascular risk factors and type 2 diabetes. Parental influences have a large effect on the amount of screen time in children.

Another environmental cause of childhood obesity is the lack of physical activity. The problem is that physical activity has been replaced by video games, television, social networking and other technology. (Child Obesity Statistics) “It’s proven that children who watch the most hours of television have the highest incidence of obesity.” (Hosten) The American Heart Association they recommend “all children age 2 and older should participate in at least 60 minutes of enjoyable, moderate-intensity physical activities every day.” They also recommend “if your child or children don't have a full 60-minute activity break each day, try to provide at

Childhood obesity starts at home. In many households today the television and the computer is a child’s best friend. Technology is one of the causes that contributes to children being obese. At a young age kids tend to spend most of their entire day using technology. When children sit in front of the TV, they are most likely to see, the broadcasting and advertising of fast foods. Nowadays, fast foods have gotten better in encouraging people to eat their foods. One is now able to order their food using phones and the television. Children are exposed to thousands of commercial every day. People who spend half of their day watching TV, have a higher risk of having obesity. One of the issues with this is the parent allow their child to sit and

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have exploded in recent years and young surfers in particular have become ardent fans of this dynamic and high-tech way to connect with the wider world around them, communicating with friends and hooking up with like-minded people. But as with everything in the virtual world, parents do need to understand how their children are interacting on social networking sites, and be sure their children know what to do if they have experience a bad or dangerous situation.

A television set in a child’s bedroom can cause higher obesity rates, because children are less likely to be encouraged to do any physical activities. When a child has a television set in their bed room, they are less likely to want to leave. This increases the odds of them having meals in their room, and laying down to watch TV. In which they do not have an opportunity to burn off the calories they intake. These risk factors are not as present in children who do not have a television set in their bedroom. Adachi-Mejia (2007) results found “Children with a TV in the bedroom were still 1.3 time more likely to be overweight than

The lack of psychical activity is another growing issue. Some people are quick to blame computers, television, and other sources as the driving forces behind childhood obesity. Food for thought: Who allows the child to sit in front of the computer or television for hours? Computers and televisions have become built in babysitters for some parents Television and the Internet may contribute to obesity rates a little; however, these are not the only factors that decide whether a child becomes obese. In fact, according to the WHO survey, parents are just as much at fault for making their children obese as outside influences are. Mothers tipped the scale with 91 percent of them being primary caregivers in the telephone survey, and were the ones responsible for the foods offered to, cooked for (and chosen by) the children. A parent allowing access to so many choices of unhealthy snacks convenient foods, and sitting in front of the television or Internet is only part of the problem.