Kids And Media (TV, Internet)

It's something every new parent grapples with: How much TV is too much TV?

Researchers at the University of Washington have found really young kids seem to be watching a lot of it. And while they're not sure how bad that is for them, they know it's not entirely good. Here's what their survey turned up:

• 90 percent of children under the age of 2 watch TV and videos regularly
• 40 percent of infants under 3 months are, too (Three months?)
• 29 percent of parents whose babies are watching TV and DVDs believe the educational programming is good for their brain stimulation, though no research has proven this

Sure, every parent of a baby and young toddler needs a break, but check out the full story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to help you decide how much is okay. Remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children younger than 2, and only one to two hours a day of quality programming for older children.

Resist the temptation to put TVs in children's bedrooms, too. The academy says one of out of every five children age 2 or younger has a TV in his bedroom. There's another reason this may not be a good thing — an increased risk of obesity for preschoolers who have TVs in their bedrooms.

So, truthfully, do you think babies should watch any TV or videos? Please share how you manage the balance of educational videos, TV, and good old-fashioned play with your little ones.

How To (Realistically) Set TV, Internet Limits for Kids

Tip: No TV, Internet, or video games until homework is finished.
Reality: This one is the easiest one to follow in our house because it's pretty clear cut. (No doubt it's harder to ensure if kids are home alone after school.) Once homework is finished, then we can talk about computer time and TV. But homework includes reading, and we've been slacking on this one. 10-years-old does not read as much as her older sibs, so we've added reading time to the before-TV-Internet list again.

Tip: No instant messaging or emailing during homework time.
Reality: This one is harder to stick to as kids get older. Still, it's worth a try. That's why it's important to keep computers in central areas. But this, too, needn't be a hard and fast rule for teens. The reality is once they move to college and into the workforce, they'll be juggling multiple instant messages while doing work and surfing the web. So help them make good decisions about what work needs their undivided attention and what work can be completed with some interruptions.

Tip: No computers in bedrooms.
Reality: As more teens start to use laptops and more homes integrate wireless Internet access, there will be times when kids have computers in bedrooms. But laptops are portable, so you can make sure homework is done in a more central place in the home and that laptops are turned off and out of bedrooms at bedtime.

Tip: Set time limits on TV and computer time.
Reality: Easier said than done and not always terribly realistic because life doesn't move in neat segments of time. Some days this will work, others it won't. Set guidelines and keep talking (and showing) your kids why it's important to read newspapers and magazines, and spend time outside. Alternatively, You can do crossword puzzles together.

That's just a few. Feel free to add your true-life approach to striking the right media balance at home for you and your kids.