Not Just Background Noise: New Study on the Dangers of Background TV
it’s for company or distraction, plenty of American families leave the TV on when no one is watching — it’s 
called “background TV.” In a new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, researchers warn that exposure to background TV could harm your child’s cognitive performance and social play — especially for children less than 2 years old.
Study findings
The study, “Background Television in the Homes of U.S. Children,” found that the average child between the ages of 8 months and 8 years is exposed to almost four hours of background television on a typical day. Younger children and African-American children are exposed to even more on a daily basis — 5.5 hours total. Children from the poorest families have the most exposure, at six hours a day. While this may seem harmless, researchers find that there is a connection between background television exposure and decreased intellectual functioning. Experts already know that television in a child’s bedroom has been linked to poor academic performance, difficulty regulating sleep and higher obesity rates. Background TV also inhibits your child’s social play, an important part of cognitive development.
How to minimize your child’s exposure to background TV
You can help minimize your child’s exposure to background TV by following these guidelines:
- Children less than 2 years old should not be exposed to any amount of television.
- Turn off the TV when you are not watching it. Try turning on the radio instead.
- Turn off the TV during mealtimes and at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Keep televisions out of your child’s bedroom.
- Maintain restrictions on your child’s screen time. Experts recommend no more than two hours per day for children 2 years and older.
Reviewed by: Patrick S. Pasquariello Jr., MD
Date: October 2012
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