TV AND BABIES: SHOULD VIEWERS — BE THIS YOUNG?

Nationwide, surveys have estimated that children spend more hours watching television each year than they spend in the classroom — 100 hours more — which puts television in a very persuasive position as role model and storyteller in our children's lives. The habit starts young. On average, American children age 2 and under will spend more than two hours a day in front of a screen. And the habit often increases with age. From ages 2 to 17, the average child spends 19 hours and 40 minutes in front of a TV screen, according to Nielson Research.

In recent years, TV and video programming has tuned into its youngest audience to date, ages 0 to 24 months. As of last week, infants have their own cable channel, providing programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While little is known about the effects of TV on the growth and development of children younger than age 2, but quite a bit of research points to negative effects from too much screen time later in childhood, is there a need to make TV part of the picture? With real potential for a downside and no clear upside, as both a mother and a doctor, I see no reason to take the chance.

Infancy is a powerful time of learning. Stimulation and interaction are needed for brain development. Babies learn from everything — the sound of a voice, movements, colors. Conversations and gestures between family members and infants are crucial as speech and communication skills develop. When everyday chores need to be done, infants can be put in a carrier and you can talk, sing and play with your infant as you go. The journey, although it may be routine for you, will be a learning experience for your infant. If your infant watches TV instead, an opportunity for interaction is lost.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV time before age 2. For children older than 2, the Academy recommends no more than one to two hours per day of quality (educational, nonviolent) programs. These recommendations come with good reason.

Potentially, and research helps us count the possible ways. In later childhood, excess TV time has been associated with obesity, poor eating habits, an increase in violent behavior and sexual activity, substance use, and less success in school.

For infants and toddlers, fewer studies have been conducted, but early research points to potential effects. A 2003 study found TV messages can influence behavior in infants as young as 12-months-old. A new study found slightly lower scores on intelligence tests for children age 7 who viewed television younger than the age of 3 (on average 2.2 hours per day). Other studies have found an association between early television and video exposure with attention problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood. There is a danger of TV becoming habit-forming. A recent study found that 2-year-olds who watched more than two hours of TV per day watched more than two hours of TV per day at age 6. And other research has pointed to less social interaction between parents and infants as a factor in early signs of language difficulty at age 10 months, findings that take on even more significance if we consider that 70 percent of day care centers use TV during the day.

Interaction between children and adults, as well as their peers, is important at all ages. TV can be isolating. Eighty-one percent of television viewed by children age 2 to 7 is viewed alone, according to a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Even for older children and adults, we may sometimes underestimate the power images and TV stories can have. According to a Senate Judiciary Committee Staff Report, an average child in this country witnesses 200,000 acts of violence on TV by the age of 18. Almost two-thirds of all programming contains violence, according to Nielsen Media Research, and children's programming is not an exception.

Studies report TV as a source of nightmares, sleep issues and anxiety for children. One survey showed a direct correlation between the numbers of hours of TV watched per day by third- through eighth-graders and symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. If all that isn't enough to keep TV out of a child's bedroom, consider this: a new study found third-graders who had a TV in their bedroom had lower scores in math and language skills.

Although not TV-aholics, my family has never had a TV-free household. I have admired parents who were able to take the diligence not to succumb to what is the normal standard in most homes. The closest we've ever come to being completely TV-free is during family vacations to a dude ranch where there isn't a TV to be found. With its absence, it is remarkable how much more time there is to take a walk together and talk. There is a complete absence of that noise in the background that can distract us from spending quality time. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 36 percent of families leave the television on the majority of the time, even when there aren't any viewers. Most of us could use less background noise.

As with everything in life, moderation is key. For children older than age 2, within limits and with the right programming, TV may encourage activities and learning. If parents are watching educational programs with their child, asking questions, discussing the content, and participating (for example singing and dancing along with their child and the TV characters), there may be a positive result. One study found when preschoolers were exposed to non-violent educational TV shows, they showed greater creativity, more enthusiasm to read, and higher grades. Another study reported a relationship between reading recognition and TV viewers age 3 to 5. But not all research has come to these same conclusions; other researchers have noted negative effects regardless of programming. One important factor in all of the studies — the amount of time spent in front of the tube.

A good question to ask in every household — if a child (or an adult) wasn't watching TV, what else could he or she be doing?