Grow Up Strong -- Limit TV and Screen Time
Although television, the Internet, and video games can provide valuable opportunities for your children to learn about the world they live in, these activities can keep kids from participating in other activities that are crucial to their health and well-being.
Help your child find the proper balance between sedentary screen time and other diversions that foster the social and physical development he or she needs. Otherwise, these activities can quickly consume all of your child's leisure time and leave no room for exercise.
Limiting your child's amount of screen time to one or two hours per day can prevent a sedentary lifestyle, which will help him or her avoid future health problems as an adult.
Replace some of your family's TV and screen time with more active options such as:
- Acting out plays and stories
- Teaching kids how to dance
- Training to run or walk a 5K race together
- Starting a kids' bowling or flag football league
The more active children are, the healthier they are, making it more likely they will grow up to be fit adults. In fact, the incidence of obesity is lowest among people who watch an hour or less of television a day.
Get in the habit of recording your family's favorite shows so you can fast-forward through the commercials. When your kids do watch television, join them; and choose programs that spur curiosity, discussion, and learning. Also, talk about what is being advertised and how the ads influence choices and behavior.
Too much time in front of the television tends to promote inactivity and encourages an appetite for unhealthy foods, which increases the risk of obesity. This poses problems because overweight children are twice as likely as normal-weight children to become overweight adults. And overweight adults are far more likely to develop serious health problems, notably type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In addition, heavy TV viewers also have a higher prevalence of smoking, depression, alcohol use, and hostility.
