Pediatricians Say Kids Spend Too Much Time Watching Media

Kids spend too much time staring at screens according to recommendations released today from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The average 8-year-old spends eight hours a day using various forms of media, and teenagers often surpass 11 hours of media consumption daily, according to the authors of the AAP statement. More than three quarters of teenagers have cell phones, and teens ages 13 to 17 send an average of 3,364 texts per month. Several studies have linked high media consumption with poor health outcomes. For example, children with TVs in their bedrooms are more likely to be obese.”

I strongly endorse the recommendation to limit media to no more than two hours a day (with non for children under two) and never, ever in the child’s bedroom.  I’d add: never, ever during meals or in car trips of less than an hour.