You work hard to take good care of your children. You want them to grow up healthy and happy. With so many choices, doing the right thing for them can seem complicated at times. But one of the best things you can do for our children is an easy choice: help them break the TV and video game habit.

Pull the Plug

• Limit screen time (TV, video games, and computers) to no more than 1-2 hours a day.
• Move the TV out of the bedroom.

Research shows that the amount of time a child spends on screens—TV, video and computer time—can have a negative affect on their health and overall development. Did you know that studies have found:

• Very young children who watch TV are more likely to have delays in developing their language skills.
• Preschoolers who watch too much TV have more problems with aggression, sleep, self control, attention and cooperation, compared to children who watch less.
• Too much TV can negatively affect sleep, memory and learning. Children who watch more TV do not do as well in school as children who spend less time in front of the screen.
• Too much TV time is associated with obesity and high blood pressure in children. One recent study showed that for each hour of TV a child watched per day, their risk of high blood pressure increased by 26%.
• If you suspect that your child may have attention problems or ADHD, several studies now show a link between screen time and attention problems. Although it’s too soon to know exactly how attention and screen time might be linked, it limiting screen time is a wise parenting choice with both immediate and long term benefits. To learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder please watch our ADHD Video

How much TV is too much? It depends on the child’s age. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends no screen time (TV or videos) before age two. Older children should spend no more than 1-2 hours a day total in front of a screen (TV, videogames, and computers.) Remember, children who are sitting in front of the TV or the computer aren’t getting enough physical activity and are missing out on all the other things there are to do: reading, writing stories, playing with friends, drawing, dancing… the list goes on.

We invite you and your family to get started by participating in National TV-Turnoff Week (April 21-27.) This is a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects of excessive TV-watching, and to encourage everyone to reduce screen time and replace it with activities that lead to more active and engaged lives all year long.

Kaiser Permanente is a national sponsor of TV-Turnoff week because we believe that less screen time is good for your family’s health. We also know that healthy changes in behavior can be more fun and lasting if you do them with others, and that your children look to you as role models. So we encourage you to join in TV-Turnoff Week. Do it for health. Do it for fun. And if you need a little nudge: do it for your children.

For more information and a great list of things to do instead of watching TV, visit the www.kp.org/tvturnoff website.