The Diaper-Wearing Channel Surfer
Nearly 20 percent of children 0-2 years old now have a TV in their bedroom, as do more than 40 percent of 3-4 year olds. Those are among the findings of a new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. The main reason parents cited for putting TVs in their kids' rooms is so that different family members can watch their favorite shows.
Matt's View
Of course, the AAP is concerned with healthy development, and it recommends no TV viewing at all for children under the age of two. For older children, the Academy recommends no more than one or two hours of TV viewing per day, and then only educational or non-violent programs.
But there are financial implications here as well. As Boston College sociologist and Born to Buy author Juliet Schor has pointed out, allowing children to watch TV unsupervised gives marketers direct access to kids, which at least dials up the "I want this" nag factor. Schor's research has also shown a correlation between TV watching and saving: the less TV people watch the more they save. In other words, raise your kids on less TV and you might just raise a saver as well.
Managing Money by The Book
- "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." - Psalm 119:16
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