How Much Television is Too Much? Science Weighs In

Scientists have it in for television. On the surface, television seems to be a big, bad creature that corrupts youth. Promising athletes are transformed into immobile, morbidly obese balls of flesh. Courtesy of Showtime, kind, compassionate children become violent, sex-crazed lunatics. If your kid is typical, television plays a big part in their life, so pay attention.

According to new study in the October 2009 issue of Child Development, television is destroying our families. Here is the press release:

A new study looks for the first time at the effect of background TV on interactions between parents and young children. Using an experimental design, researchers found that when a TV was on, both the quantity and quality of interactions between parents and children dropped. This study challenges the common assumption that background TV doesn't affect very young children if they don't look at the screen.

Gulp! Keep your television and you are killing your family, one conversation at a time. This study, just like similar studies, received a ton of media attention. The consensus is that one of the easiest ways to improve the quality of our life, our children, and our family, is to turn off the TV.

But let's get into the details. Because if there is one thing I learned about the media and research, it's that the details make all the difference and they are often the first to go. In this particular study, scientists observed 50 kids between the ages of 1-3 and their parents for one hour. For half of the one-hour session, parents and children were in a playroom without TV; for the other 30 minutes, parents chose a program to watch. Now let's go back to the conclusion. Watching TV interferes with the quantity and quality of conversations between parents and children. No $#@! I have some titles for other studies:

"Books are bad for kids -- Tell them to stop reading, now!"
After all, if kids have a book open and they are immersed in the story, this makes it hard to talk to parents and friends.

"The neglected, untreated cause of erectile dysfunction -- iPhones!"
Checking your email and reading the latest news on your iPhone while naked atop another adult is going to harm your sexual performance. Go ahead, see for yourself.

Personally, I don't mind if researchers want to study whether television is harmful. What I suggest is that they ask the right questions. Instead of fighting the content of what people do, scientists should focus on the function. If someone watches television to recharge their batteries after intense socializing (because perhaps they are highly sensitive) and it works, then I say let them keep their strategy. If watching television helps an active, social child unwind at the end of the day and transition into their nighttime routine of brushing teeth, getting into their pajamas, and going to sleep, so be it. Sounds like a perfect strategy to regulate their mood. The reasons that people watch television can range from the helpful (learning about astronomy, recharging their energy supply) to the unhelpful (procrastinating from studying for an exam, avoiding other people because socializing is anxiety provoking).

Let's move beyond the silly argument of how much television people should watch and focus on the motives behind the movements. If you are a parent, the amount of hours that your children watch television should not be yet another area for you to stress about. There are enough important, stressful areas that warrant your attention. Let this be your mantra -- focus on function, not content.

Science should speak for itself but if the questions are silly then the data and the conclusions are going to be silly. In the absence of good research, nobody should be turning to scientists for opinions about how to have fun. Once scientists move outside their area of expertise, they are just as stupid as anyone else. Myself included.

Dr. Todd B. Kashdan is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University. He is the author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life. For more about his books and research, go to www.toddkashdan.com

 

 

Follow Todd Kashdan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/toddkashdan

Comments

[skantea]

IMHO Televison tricks people into believing too deeply in closure.

Seriously, in real life sometimes it takes a decade (or more) to truly understand why something happened and how things turn out the way they did.

But because the tube tells us that everything will make sense in 30 minutes, people often try to force answers on questions that should remain open.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day.

But also, can we get rid of some of the poisonous crap coming out of the radio?

[ziploked]

Great article. Thank you!

As a parent, I have found that, like so many other things, the tool is what you make of it. Excuse the metaphor, but if used correctly, I believe TV is and should be used as an educational tool.

Watching TV with your kids, and paying attention to what they watch, is crucial. There are so many wonderful programs directed at educating children, that its a shame not to let kids see them. Letting kids see parts of the world, other people, or animals in nature from different parts of the world is good, too.

Too much of anything (just like chocolate), is bad. Used responsibility, and not as a baby-sitting device, TV can be a very good thing. It all comes down to what you let your kids watch, doesn't it?

Thank you for pointing out there are two sides to every argument about television.

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for the kind words. I agree with everything that you say. Parenting is such a tough endeavor with nothing but uncertainty and ambiguity at every corner. And everyone is peddling different advice and making a killing because everybody wants some answers. As you mention, there are no clear answers when it comes to TV but with a little common sense, here is one area that parents shouldn't spend their finite attention and energy to stress about.

cheers,
Todd

[ChenChen Rong]

No matter what the issue is, oftentimes the media tends to leave out crucial elements out of the story so that the information they deliver can be that much more dramatic or have that much more punch to it. The annoying part is people eat it up.

While it is the media's job to turn otherwise boring information into interesting "facts" that provoke the general public into a frenzy, I think it is anyone with a brain's job to always be skeptical, and find out the facts behind the issues that the media brings to our attention.

Not really the main point behind this article, but I think it is great that Todd took a step back to reveal the weaknesses in a study that gathered a lot of media attention.

Perhaps reading this article will cause someone to give pause the next time they want to jump to conclusions and believe everything they read.

Kudos
Charlie

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks Charlie! That would be a fantastic outcome of anybody reading this....

[khanti]

How much TV is enough? When your vision becomes bleary.

Seriously Doc, nowadays children play video games you can hardly get them to watch television.

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Khanti, thanks for pointing out that I am one step behind on the technology. When radio came out, people were making the same complaints about TV. Soon kids will be playing stickball and eating at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory within virtual reality chambers and we will remember the good 'ol days when kids spent their time on Facebook....

[khanti]

I your admire humbleness Mr. Todd. Very often our ego get the better of us and blocks us from learning better things. A humble person has his ego in check. You will be achieve much in whatever you do.

[MarjieKnudsen]

Todd, thank you for making such an excellent point!

It's not about how much time is spent... it's the function of that time... and the end result that matters.

I would like to challenge someone to find me a scientific study that shows a respected, listened to AND loved child who ended up a corrupt youth.... because of TV or Video Games. (and I'm not talking about internet safety here which is very important.)

I am a parent of four. My oldest is doing amazing work in law school, and she watched plenty of TV, played video games, was on myspace, facebook, etc.

She also grew up respected and loved (there were times I lacked listening skills - see above- 4 kids)

Although very much like described in the book Curious, she looked at everything in life as a learning adventure.

Every child is different, yet the same.

@MarjieKnudsen

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Marjie, always great to get snippets of your wisdom, thank you!

[Kolette De La Cruz]

Ok...I get your point but as an educator and a mom...I do strongly feel that there is a limit to what & how long your child is watching tv.... Yes, my children watch TV daily...but they are watching age appropriate shows for less than 1 hour a day. ..ok on weekends, maybe a bit longer... I do think screen time (including TV, computers, video games) stifles essential communication in families (both adults & kids). I also think that content in an important thing to consider with kids. Are they watching something that is developmentally appropraite and for how long???? the APA (American Academy of Pediatrics) suggests no more tan 1 hour of total screen time (tv, computer, video games) for children under age 8. I would agree with that.

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

As a parent, I feel your concern. However, our intuition is often wrong (next blog post). Research from 2008 shows that the average child watches 4hrs of TV per day and less than 10% of children watch less than 1hr/day. Should 90% of parents be worried because they don't follow the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines? And where do they get 1hr/day as being acceptable? Why is it always an even number?

The truth is, on average, the hours of television that parents set as a limit in their household will have a negligible effect on how they turn out as adults. Same goes for controlling what TV shows they watch will have a negligible effect on how they turn out as adults. That effort is better spent creating an environment that supports our children's sense of belonging (so they feel cared for and validated), sense of competence (so they feel they can effectively handle life's challenges with versatile coping skills), and a sense of autonomy (so they feel they are the author of their own life instead of feeling like a pawn pushed around). The more we sweat the small stuff, the more we miss out on where the action lies. And there is small stuff everywhere for parents to hyperfocus on and get upset about in hopes of grabbing some semblance of control....

It takes a lot more than television to mess up a child. There are more meaningful ingredients for our limited time and energy

[TakeSake]

The main problem with TV is the opportunity cost of getting almost nothing worth while done with that time. It could have been used for something much more productive. Same with video games.

What makes records and radio nice is that I can do other things when they are on. For instance, I can play a record and clean the house or do exercise at the same time.

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

If your goal is to be as productive as humanly possible, then yes, by those standards television might be viewed as harmful. If your goal is to be mindfully engaged in an activity, fully alive in the present moment, then everything you listed is equally problematic. Television might not be the enemy rather it might be how you use it. Which is better:

1. The mom who looks forward to coming home, cuddling up with her son to watch a movie together (which by the way, like most movies, is longer than a hour and thus, violating the American Academy of Pediatrics standards)

or

2. The mom who tells her child to find something else to do besides watching television, and then goes off to read her book.

The television is not the issue. My suggestion is that we focus on the context, the function, the bigger picture.

cheers,
Todd

[MerrieWay]

Pinch! Ouch! You hit a cord, Todd. Overuse in TV viewing creates inactivity, lethargy, and the lack of creativity in our children. Instead of developing their own images, (playing in nature, drawing, writing) 2-3 hours of daily media viewing bombards our kids with hundreds of thousands of violent images by the time they are 10- years-old.
MerrieWay Community published "Media Smarts 4 Young Folks" birth-8 to help parents, elementary and pre-school teachers be aware of the dangers in using TV as a baby-sitter, and how to responsibly watch programming as a family. Ethical issues, story messages can be discussed and be beneficial. We have video games, the internet that also can add to this mix. Moderation in viewing time and monitoring what's watched is essential for youth's healthy growth.
Why worry? Just be aware and responsible: goog role-modeling teaches and encourages our kids to do the same.

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Good, I hope these posts challenge and provoke. It sounds like you are doing some excellent work. But I have to quibble with your statement that "overuse in TV viewing creates inactivity, lethargy, and the lack of creativity in our children." There is no research that suggests TV creates any problems. Nearly all of the research is correlational which means we don't know what is the cause, what is the consequence, and whether there are other factors that are responsible for all the problems you list. For instance, if a child feels rejected, we might expect excessive TV watching, inactivity, lack of creativity, and a host of other problems (substance use, a delinquent peer group, etc.). Poor grades in school might lead children to be disengaged and turn to television. We just don't know.

But I think we're both on the same page- let's help children find sustainable sources of engagement and meaning; let's help children develop significant, healthy relationships and work to nourish them regularly; let's help children find routes to explore, discover, and grow. From my knowledge of the data, there is more benefit in helping children discover their values, strengths, and interests; helping them create goals aligned with these values and interests, and use their strengths more regularly; and helping them build a life that matters. Television viewership is not the decisive factor of which kids are going to thrive.....there are real threats to worry about.

[MerrieWay]

Building a life that matters...is the core. And, who is living that life. We are on the same page...we care about kids and family life. Keep the blogs coming. Your fan....

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey Todd!
Great blog!
I love the new studies! Hilarious!
I have found (after raising 4 kids now) that television watching is PEAKED OUT at age 1-3 years old- another flaw in the study. Kids at that age are so active, they wear parents out, and both need some time out for tv. The shows are engaging and interactive- Dora, Blues Clues and the like are great mood regulators.
Just as you think you are ruining your kids with too much tv- they get older, they start drawing, they start riding a bike and whirling a hula hoop. Soon they start up on computer games and Webkins replaces PBS.
Of course, talk to me about Facebook addiction with the teenagers!
There is always SOMETHING to worry about.
Kari

[Todd Kashdan - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Kari, thanks for the kind words and thanks for sharing your personal experience. You will find me violently nodding to everything you wrote....

[SevenSees]

T.V. is a modern phenomena that won't go away soon. Those who were so fond of radio could not imagine anyone watching a box all day long. Imagination has taken a backseat to 'stimulation'. Most people probably would guess that they watch t.v. less than they actually do, and that they are nicer, better looking, and have more money than they actually do. The t.v. tells them so.

Shoot your t.v. at your own risk - my vanity is all I need in this pitiful life - I heard that on t.v. so it's got to be true, huh?