North Carolina researchers have found the average American child, 8 months to 8 years old, is exposed to almost 4 hours of “background” television per day. Factors contributing to this were leaving the TV on when no one is watching and ownership of TVs in the child’s bedroom. Research suggests this second-hand TV viewing may lessen attention spans, alter parent-child interactions, lower cognitive function.
PositiveTip: Parents: control not only the foreground TV exposure of your children, but also the background exposure.