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It is a universally acknowledged truth that the idiot box is taking over kids’ lives. However, a new research has found that the easiest way to make sure that your kids grow up healthy, if not wealthy and wise, is to just switch the thing off.
In a new study, a group of University of Toronto researchers have found a direct link between the tube and inactivity that seems to be affecting kids these days.
“Because television is so commonplace in our society, we do not realise how much of an impact it has on youth,” says co-author Professor Ken Allison of the department of public health sciences and principal investigator in the physical activity research programme.
Prof Allison added that if parents wanted their kids to grow up healthy, then it was “crucial” that they started turning televisions off, and making sure that their kids got out of the house for some games instead.
“We need to be reminded that it is crucial to turn them off in order to establish healthy and active patterns in childhood and adolescence that will remain with individuals into adulthood,” he said.
As a part of the study, researchers tracked the weekly time spent on sedentary activities such as computer usage, video game playing and television viewing and then measured physical inactivity through daily energy expenditures assessed using a questionnaire.
They found a statistically significant link between TV viewing and lack of exercise: the more television children watch, the less energy they expend on physical activity.
Prof Allison’s study reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health, suggests that parents could easily make sure that their kids stay healthy by following a few simple rules, such as:
• Providing a positive role model for kids by limiting own TV viewing time.
• Plan television watching schedule and allow kids to pick their favourite shows.
• Limit the use of snack foods while watching TV to once a week.
• Parents have to assume responsibility to prevent or reduce the adverse impacts. They have to develop definite plans related to their ward’s television viewing habit.
• TV viewing should be a family activity.
• Do not allow children to watch the TV alone
• Monitor the content of program viewed by the children
• When you do not allow children to watch certain programmes, explain to them why.
• When violent scenes are televised, discuss about the pros and cons of such activities. Talk to the children about the fictitious nature of the event.
• Encourage children to express their views about the programme.
• Set time limits for watching the television.
• Never keep TV sets in children’s bedroom.
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