Did sitting around like couch potatoes all day just watching TV cause the behavior problems of the siblings you adopted? There are those who suggest that TV is responsible for everything from lethargy and obesity to shortened attention spans. A new study even suggests that if you begin limiting your children’s TV viewing before the age of six, you may be able to reverse the negative effects.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that kids shouldn’t watch TV for more than two hours a day and children under two shouldn’t watch it at all. Researchers found a way to adjust the new study results to account for factors such as income and parental involvement. However, the data indicated that children in the study who watch two or more hours of TV daily are more likely to suffer from sleep, attention, aggressive behavior problems, and difficulty dealing with others.

Researchers analyzed surveys of 2,702 families who enrolled in a national study between 1996 and 1998. They followed these children from birth to age five and a half. This study is unique because it followed kids over a period of 2.5 years to 5.5 years. Researchers periodically changed the levels of TV watching time and then measured the effects of the change.

The Lead author of the study was Kamila Mistry, a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Surveys indicated that 20 percent of parents indicated that their children watch TV for at least two hours a day at both 2.5 and 5.5 years old. Forty percent of children have a TV in their bedroom by age 5.5. The researchers found that children with TVs in their bedrooms are more likely to have sleeping problems.

Does this mean I need to give up the Baby Einstein DVDs? Amigrace loves them and sometimes they stop her from throwing tantrums. Although, I have noticed that our four year old acts terrible when she has played video games for several hours. We have had to limit her time on the TV and video games or deal with her kicking and screaming.

When our daughters, who are now adults, moved into our home all they wanted to do was slouch on the couch and stare at the TV. Really, it was amazing the way their bodies molded to the couch. It wasn’t easy to get them active, but we managed and both sisters have great work ethics now.

The findings are published in the October issue of Pediatrics.

AdoptionWeek e-Magazine To subscribe visit AdoptionWeek.com

For information/instructions on how to subscribe FREE to your favorite AdoptionBlogs, please visit this link. your favorite AdoptionBlogs

Should I Try Medication Now or Wait
Did You Ever Think, “My Child’s Special Needs Are Too Much to Handle?”
How to Choose a Psychiatrist
Acquiring Older Sibling’s Bad Habits
Teen rebellion or Brain Function
It’s True! Adopting Special Needs Children Can Make You Nuts
Only One of Us Can Be Good at Home