KERA
Skip to content
  • Home
  • Television
  • Radio
  • News
  • Art&Seek
  • Kids&Family
  • KXT 91.7
  • About
  • Donate
  • Kids & Family

  • Teachers

    • Attachment & Socialization

      About Attachment & Socialization
      Your Child's Attachment Development
      Attachment Tools & Tips
      Attachment & Socialization Videos

    • Early Literacy

      About Early Literacy
      Early Literacy Development
      Early Literacy Tools & Tips
      Early Literacy Videos

    • Nutrition & Fitness

      Food
      Nutrition
      Activities
      Nutrition & Fitness Videos

    • Temperament

      About Temperament
      Your Child's Temperament
      Temperament Tools & Tips
      Temperament Videos

  • Parents

    • Attachment & Socialization

      About Attachment & Socialization
      Your Child's Attachment Development
      Attachment Tools & Tips
      Attachment & Socialization Videos

    • Early Literacy

      About Early Literacy
      Early Literacy Development
      Early Literacy Tools & Tips
      Early Literacy Videos

    • Nutrition & Fitness

      Food
      Nutrition
      Activities
      Nutrition & Fitness Videos

    • Temperament

      About Temperament
      Your Child's Temperament
      Temperament Tools & Tips
      Temperament Videos

  • Kids

    • Play Games
    • PBS Kids Video
    • PBS Kids Mobile
Home > Ready for Life > Parents > Nutrition & Fitness > Activities > Computer and TV Time
Skip to content
  • For Parents
    • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Activities
        • Activity and Fitness
        • Activity Ideas
        • Computer and TV Time
      • Food
        • Children’s Tableware
        • Eating at Home/Eating Out
        • Family-Style Dining
        • Food Challenges
        • Infant Feeding
      • Nutrition
        • Healthy Drinks
        • Healthy Snacks
        • Serving Size
      • Nutrition & Fitness Resources
      • Nutrition & Fitness Videos
    • Temperament
    • Attachment & Socialization
    • Early Literacy

Computer and TV Time

Some combination of television, radio, smart phones, computerized gaming systems, computers, DVDs, CDs and videos are found in most young children’s homes in the U.S. today. While they make it possible for us to enjoy a very diverse selection of entertainment, they also often function as virtual babysitters for millions of our children each year. The results of numerous studies published recently by the medical research community indicate that children who spend too much time watching TV, sitting at computers and playing computerized games are much more likely to become overweight.

Children who spend too much time seated in front of electronic technology rather than engaging in physical activity are typically children who eat more and move less. Research indicates that children who watch TV or play computer games while eating may become less aware of when they are hungry or full. Research also indicates that children who are exposed to too much electronic advertising that promotes unhealthy foods are also more likely to become overweight.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that there should be no television or computer time for children under age two, and no more than two hours per day for children over two.

triangular-shaped array of images depicting children's activitiesView-Read-Do model*

VIEW a children’s show with your child that involves physical movement, and then physically move as your child moves.

READ a book that depicts or tells about its characters moving, and then act out what these characters do. Stop in the middle of your reading and encourage your child to get up and pretend with you.

DO something fun and physically active that is related to something you both watched on TV or read in a book. If you’re viewing a show or reading a book about the ocean, pretend your child is a fish, and encourage him or her to pretend to swim through the water!

Computers and Video Games

  • Limit the amount of time your child can spend on the computer and the amount of time he or she can spend playing video games.
  • Set a timer for 10 minutes. When it goes off, set it for 10 minutes again and tell your child that he now must walk, run, dance or play with balls until the timer goes off again.

iPods and Music

  • Take time to play your favorite music (or your child’s) and dance to it with him or her.
  • Hand out scarves, rattles or pots and spoons, and play them to the beat of the music that you and your child like to listen to.

*This information is recommended by the Ready To Learn Department of PBS.

Related Video

  • Feeding and Fitness: A Drop to Drink

    We often ignore the calories and sugar in the drinks we give our kids. Know about the drinks that are good for your children and the drinks you should avoid giving them.
  • Little Bites, Big Steps

    Understand the importance of nutrition and fitness habits for your child's developing mind and body.
  • Feeding and Fitness: Feeding Your Child

    Learn about ways to give your children the healthy diet they need to grow and develop.
  • Feeding and Fitness: How Much?

    This video will explain nutritional facts and serving sizes appropriate for children.
  • Feeding and Fitness: Snack Attack

    This video will help you create healthy snacks for your child instead of junk food.
  • Feeding and Fitness: Energy Balance

    To be healthy, a child should put out the same amount of energy he takes in. Understand how to balance your child's activity with the amount of food they eat with this video's help.

    play GAMES

    watch VIDEOS

    Full Steam Ahead
  • Home
  • Contact KERA
  • Privacy Policy
PBS NPR American Public Media BBC

© 2023 KERA