How much television do american children watch

In a study of and year-olds, heavy exposure to sexually oriented television increased acceptance of nonmarital sex. In a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 76 percent of teens said that one reason young people have sex is because TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teens. In another Kaiser Family Foundation study, most children aged 11 to 13 and some children aged 8 to 10 understood the sexual content, even the jokes and innuendoes about sex. Viewing of daytime serials and MTV is a predictor of sexually permissive attitudes and behavior among college students.

Older adolescents in one study tended to mimic the sexual themes from the shows they watched. College students exposed to large amounts of sexual behaviors on television were more likely to believe that their peers engaged in those same activities.

Your child is never too young for a screen-time plan. Consider the following as a guideline:. Screens are here to stay and can offer many positives.

Let your children share their ideas and concerns. Some additional tips to keep in mind are:. Studies have shown that kids who watch too much TV are more likely to be overweight — and, depending on the content of what they see, more aggressive. Excess TV viewing also has been linked to poor grades, sleep problems, and behavior problems.

Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, gradeschoolers can play educational apps and games, and teens can do research online. That's why it's so important for parents to keep tabs on their kids' media use and set limits to ensure they're not spending too much time in front of a screen.

The average American child will see , violent acts on television by age Many violent acts are done by the "good guys," whom kids are taught to admire. This can confuse kids trying to understand the difference between right and wrong. Young kids are easily frightened by violent images. Behavior problems, nightmares , and trouble sleeping may happen after kids watch violence on screen. Older kids can be scared by violent images too. Talking with kids this age will help them, so it's important to comfort them and explain what they see to help ease fears.

But it's even better to not let your kids view shows or play games that could be frightening. TV and video games often show behaviors like drinking alcohol , doing drugs, smoking cigarettes , and having sex at a young age as cool, fun, and exciting.

When these things seem acceptable, kids and teens might be tempted to try them.