Putting TV to the Test
Want to raise your child's performance in school? Boot out the TV and boot up the computer.
Recent research revealed that younger children with televisions in their bedrooms scored lower on standardized tests than their peers with tube-free bedrooms. However, when they had access to a computer at home, they tended to perform better. And when a home computer was coupled with no TV in the bedroom, kids' scores were even higher.
More than 70% of students in this study had a TV in their bedrooms. Although the study doesn't prove that putting a television in your child's bedroom will decrease his or her test scores, it does add to the mounting evidence that it's not a good idea. In addition to causing disruption to homework and sleep habits, previous studies have linked excessive TV viewing with an increased risk of a number of child health problems, including obesity.
Help your child find the proper balance of sedentary screen time and other diversions that foster the social and physical development he or she needs. Restricting television and computer use to one room, such as the den, may help you better monitor both the quality and quantity of what your kids are viewing. Plus, it will provide more teachable moments for you and your family.
