What’s Excessive? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics our children should be limited to no more than 1-2 hours a day! Researchers have found that when children watch excessive t.v. they are at risk of depression, obesity and attention span disorders. According to the study, children who reported “more television use had significantly greater odds of developing depression for each additional hour of daily television use.”
These findings were NOT correlated to children who were exposed to video games, computer games or radio. Perhaps because of the involvement of motor skills in games. What I find interesting is how quickly we allow ourselves and children to escape into “fantasy” so quickly and so deeply, when life is present to be lived! Books, music, sports, activities, chores, hobbies, relationships, worship, study (to name a few) are all areas of a balanced individual that get neglected for t.v.
Research shows that exercise between 4-8 pm increases strength and endurance, a great time to exercise, skip t.v. and choose to develop a healthy lifestyle.
In Health & Service,
Dr. Roland Phillips BA, BS, D.C.