Community Corner

5 Dangers of Too Much Screen Time

Between TV, video games, computers and smart phones kids, the amount of screen time kids and families are taking part in is on the rise.

Do you know the hidden dangers that come along with excessive screen time? Your child could be losing sleep and falling behind on school projects. Dr. Stephanie Walsh with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta shares some health tips.

1.  An average 8 to 18 year old looks at a screen around 7.5 hours a day. That is the equivalent of 114 days out of the year and 68 of those days are also spent solely watching television.

2.  Television screen exposure is linked to BMI and the average child consumes 18.5 grams of fat (or 167 calories) for each additional hour of television that is watched (and the television commercials featuring high-sugar and high-fat snacks aren't helping either).

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3.  Not only is screen time affecting weight, but it is also affecting children's sleep. Screen time is linked to irregular sleeping patterns and disturbances in children 6 to 12 years old.

4.  Watching television is the number one after-school activity. Kids who watch more than three hours of TV a day are at high risk of poor homework completion/ grades and tend to have a more negative attitude towards school.

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5.  Not only are the number of hours children are watching TV increasing, but the age at which they are exposed is also getting younger. Right now, the average age for a child to be exposed to TV is 9 months old and by the time they are three, 1/3 of children have a television in their bedroom.

Remember, you are your child's biggest role model and the average adult spends half of their leisure time watching television. If parents want their children to make healthy changes to their lifestyle, they must make the same changes.

Source: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta


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