Too much TV 'puts kids at risk'

Children who watch television excessively are at greater risk of developing behavioural problems and poor social skills, according to a new study.

Researchers in the US found that a sustained, high level of viewing in children under five-and-a-half increased the chances of them having behaviour problems in the future.

Children of five-and-a-half who were watching two or more hours a day were also more likely to have fewer social skills, although sustained viewing had less of a link to this.

Senior author Cynthia Minkovitz said: "Children who reduced their viewing by 5.5 years of age were not at greater risk of behaviour and social problems.

"It is vital for clinicians to emphasise the importance of reducing television viewing in early childhood among those children with early use."

Researchers analysed data for 2,707 children collected from the Healthy Steps for Young Children national evaluation, which asked parents about their child's viewing habits and behaviour.

The children of 16 per cent of the parents polled were watching two or more hours of television a day when they were two-and-a-half years old, while 15 per cent said their children watched the same amount at the age of five-and-a-half.

One in five parents reported that their children watched two or more hours a day at both ages, which qualified as sustained exposure.

More than 40 per cent, said their children had a television in their bedroom.

Lead author Kamila Mistry said: "A number of studies have demonstrated negative effects of heavy television viewing.

"However, timing of exposure is an important consideration as reducing viewing to acceptable levels can reduce the risk of behavioural and social problems."

The study was conducted at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is published in this month's edition of Pediatrics.

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