Study: Better TV might improve kids' behavior
SEATTLE (AP) - Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers' behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found.
The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.
"It's not just about turning off the television. It's about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch," said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children's Research Institute.
The research was to be published online Monday by the journal Pediatrics.
The study involved 565 Seattle parents, who periodically filled out TV-watching diaries and questionnaires measuring their child's behavior.
Half were coached for six months on getting their 3-to-5-year-old kids to watch shows like "Sesame Street" and "Dora the Explorer" rather than more violent programs like "Power Rangers." The results were compared with kids whose parents who got advice on healthy eating instead.
At six months, children in both groups showed improved behavior, but there was a little bit more improvement in the group that was coached on their TV watching.
By one year, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups overall. Low-income boys appeared to get the most short-term benefit.
"That's important because they are at the greatest risk, both for being perpetrators of aggression in real life, but also being victims of aggression," Christakis said.
The study has some flaws. The parents weren't told the purpose of the study, but the authors concede they probably figured it out and that might have affected the results.
Before the study, the children averaged about 1½ hours of TV, video and computer game watching a day, with violent content making up about a quarter of that time. By the end of the study, that increased by up to 10 minutes. Those in the TV coaching group increased their time with positive shows; the healthy eating group watched more violent TV.
Nancy Jensen, who took part with her now 6-year-old daughter, said the study was a wake-up call.
"I didn't realize how much Elizabeth was watching and how much she was watching on her own," she said.
Jensen said her daughter's behavior improved after making changes, and she continues to control what Elizabeth and her 2-year-old brother, Joe, watch. She also decided to replace most of Elizabeth's TV time with games, art and outdoor fun.
During a recent visit to their Seattle home, the children seemed more interested in playing with blocks and running around outside than watching TV.
Another researcher who was not involved in this study but also focuses his work on kids and television commended Christakis for taking a look at the influence of positive TV programs, instead of focusing on the impact of violent TV.
"I think it's fabulous that people are looking on the positive side. Because no one's going to stop watching TV, we have to have viable alternatives for kids," said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston.
The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.
"It's not just about turning off the television. It's about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch," said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children's Research Institute.
The research was to be published online Monday by the journal Pediatrics.
The study involved 565 Seattle parents, who periodically filled out TV-watching diaries and questionnaires measuring their child's behavior.
Half were coached for six months on getting their 3-to-5-year-old kids to watch shows like "Sesame Street" and "Dora the Explorer" rather than more violent programs like "Power Rangers." The results were compared with kids whose parents who got advice on healthy eating instead.
At six months, children in both groups showed improved behavior, but there was a little bit more improvement in the group that was coached on their TV watching.
By one year, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups overall. Low-income boys appeared to get the most short-term benefit.
"That's important because they are at the greatest risk, both for being perpetrators of aggression in real life, but also being victims of aggression," Christakis said.
The study has some flaws. The parents weren't told the purpose of the study, but the authors concede they probably figured it out and that might have affected the results.
Before the study, the children averaged about 1½ hours of TV, video and computer game watching a day, with violent content making up about a quarter of that time. By the end of the study, that increased by up to 10 minutes. Those in the TV coaching group increased their time with positive shows; the healthy eating group watched more violent TV.
Nancy Jensen, who took part with her now 6-year-old daughter, said the study was a wake-up call.
"I didn't realize how much Elizabeth was watching and how much she was watching on her own," she said.
Jensen said her daughter's behavior improved after making changes, and she continues to control what Elizabeth and her 2-year-old brother, Joe, watch. She also decided to replace most of Elizabeth's TV time with games, art and outdoor fun.
During a recent visit to their Seattle home, the children seemed more interested in playing with blocks and running around outside than watching TV.
Another researcher who was not involved in this study but also focuses his work on kids and television commended Christakis for taking a look at the influence of positive TV programs, instead of focusing on the impact of violent TV.
"I think it's fabulous that people are looking on the positive side. Because no one's going to stop watching TV, we have to have viable alternatives for kids," said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston.
Well, duh.
Better programming and a whole lot less commercials. With their constant badgering that we need this or that to be fulfilled in life, it's no wonder that people are always angry and depressed. If you're told something enough times, eventually you believe it. Commercials keep telling us all we're unhappy, day in and day out, because we don't have something, and naturally, very few of us can afford all that happiness.
It's especially acute in the car with the radio doing the same thing, elevating anger to the point of it needing to be released via road rage. It's not something that happens after a little exposure, but continual exposure will take its toll.
And we laugh and shake our heads at North Korea and its propaganda machine brainwashing its citizens, when the same thing is happening to us every day. See what happens when you give corporations the same rights as individuals?
@Mikey What book had Soma? Brave new world or 1984
Or you know... parents can read to them? Or encourage them to play outside? Always that pesky issue of getting kids addicted to electronics. God bless the free baby sitter - television
@therandomroger Years ago I used Nintendo to babysit my schitzo kid. Put him in front of the tv with phone next to him and snacks. Would check every half hour, plus within 3 minutes away. never a problem from ages 12 to 14
I still laugh about beavis and butthead required to have a disclaimer about do not try this at home. The stooges did not need one.Knuck... knuck.... knuck
Better TV might improve adult's behavior also. Â There is very little worth watching. Â Reality show garbage and stupid sitcoms. Â Bring back shows from the eighties and earlier, when there was something on worth watching. Â Besides, Â I didn't realize kids watched TV anymore. Â Most of the time they have their heads glued to their cell phones. Â
"It's not just about turning off the television. It's about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch..."
Are you kidding me? A show of hands please, who here DIDN'T already know this.?Â
While we are at it, let's get rid of the horrible video games that too many young folk are playing. No wonder our world is so aggressive!Â
The only way TV might improve kids behavior is if its OFF. Of course what they're really talking about is more and more propaganda aimed at an even younger generation of kids. Just like Obama calling for young children to be indoctrinated than they already are. It's the same thing. If they're too young to attend school, the flood 'em with propaganda.Â
Get 'em while they're young, as they say.
@axpman OMG..."It's ALL OBAMA'S FAULT!" Looks like the propaganda's working on YOU.
That sneaky Obama...he's everywhere doing everything to you and yours. Why, I'll bet he even went back in time and killed Lincoln, Kennedy and shot J.R. Ewing!
Then you have all these numbnuts on here and their "liberal this" or "conservative that" blather who are just as guilty. "Anyone who thinks differently is the enemy!"Â
But you're right about having it off being more beneficial than having it on...in most cases. Parents really should be watching television with their children and paying attention to exactly what concepts and ideas they are being exposed to.
And as for propaganda? Commercials and televangelists plant more seeds of hate, separatism, and divisiveness than politicians ever will. If you don't think so, you're not paying attention.
@axpman That's a little bit cynical. My daughter learned about Vowels and Consonants before she was old enough for pre-school, which isn't liberal propaganda, it's English. There's not -too- much politics except for teaching respect for the environment, but, Ted Nugent does that too. I'm a conservative fan of PBS kids' programming.
This is true. I grew up watching Roadrunner, and now all I want to do is order stuff from ACME and blow up lots of stuff.
@randola I always liked watching Popeye, but to this day I can't stand spinach.Â
Yes, but that would require parents to actually.... parent.Â
*facepalm*
I've heard so many people say variations of "Oh, they're not watching it, my husband is..."
What part of THE KID IS STILL IN THE ROOM HEARING AND SEEING IT do they not understand???
The off button isn't a bad option, either.
@Max Quinn Still better, a "kill" switch.
@Max Quinn Oh come now, you talkin' crazy....
All hail the electronic babysitter. (and blame the TV for dysfunctional children).
@MarkKpic @Max Quinn Teddy Ruxpin is a better baby sitter.
@Max Quinn Wait . . . there's an "off" button?
Gee, no, really?
My kid learned from Sesame Street, as I did. I have to find old episodes of Mr. Rogers to teach her the more fundamental lessons of life, such as:   Light Rail leads to Tyranny.   (The trolly goes to King Friday's kindom of Make Believe).  Also, Never Trush the Irish (Mr. McFeely?!)
Of course, now you've got Elmo, who's a three-year-old attention-deficit kid who gets e-mail from strangers, opens his bedroom window to let people in, and doesn't appear to have a parent anywhere to be found in the meantime.
It's the new way.
@Playanekes I remember thinking it was a great idea to order a set of Warner Classics for my own kids. I was surprised at the animated violence I'd grown up watching. lol
@Lips @Playanekes
No kidding Lips. How many times did Elmer Fudd use gun violence to try and kill Bugs and Daffey?
And we managed not to go off the deep end and kill anyone. Heck, I never even got into a fight in school.
Here's some quality t.v. for the family!
http://www.katu.com/news/entertainment/Our-first-look-at-Real-World-Portland-191720511.html
Gee, who was the Einstein that came to this conclusion?
Has everybody in this world lost any semblance of common sense??
@Rob C 503Â Â There is no such thing as common sense.
If there were, it would be common. As it is, it's rare.
Maybe it should be renamed to uncommon sense.
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@Dr. Rawdog  I vote we all slap Dr. Rawdog.
@Dr. Rawdog Slap my kid and watch what happens to you. We've gone over this already.
I've never had to slap my daughter because I guess I'm not as intellectually-defective as you. She's 6, has the day off, and is in reading books to her Little Ponies.
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@Scotty9 @Playanekes @Dr. Rawdog "get all weak-kneed and nauseated at the thought of a plane flight"
LOL! Me too, on occasion!
@Playanekes @Dr. RawdogÂ
 LOL! I hate flying. Totally terrifies me. I'll chase a bad guy into the darkness without much thought, but get all weak-kneed and nauseated at the thought of a plane flight!Â
@Playanekes @Dr. Rawdog Dude you got it going on for sure.
@Dr. Rawdog @Playanekes Actually, I'm a total coward.
Last month at this time I was in a Cirrus SR22 Turbo descending out of 19,000 feet over the Rockies into Denver, and it was -29C out, moderate turbulence, at night, the plane was bouncing +/- 150' and 40 degrees bank at will, there was ice forming on the wings and the -inside- of the canopy, IFR, trying to slow the airplane down through turbulence penetration speed, while staying above stall range, and not get sucked into the mountain in the pitch black.
Pretty scary. I was scared. I thought of my daughter over dinner that night, and then got up the next morning and continued on to Duluth wondering if I should have kept my job in Telecom. Had a similar experience in the Yukon last year.
Okay. I'm a coward. *shrug* Sucks to be me. I wish I was brave as you.
@Dr. Rawdog @Playanekes You only say that because the average 6-year-old can beat your ass.
My parents never spanked me. Didn't need to. Good values, personal integrity, and strong leadership.
So let me get this straight a study determined if you allowed your kids to not watch violent programs... they behaved better.... REALLY we needed a study to tell us not to let our kids watch crap t.v. ! Yes I agree this is a good thing but it may also be that the parents finally started paying attention to the kids instead of leaving the tv on as a babysitter and focused more.
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@TheUglyTruth  First you have to locate the better parents.
As the infamous THEY say, "S*it rolls downhill."
@TheUglyTruth And yet they didn't ask you.  Hmmmm.
@Sundowner @TheUglyTruth You people didn't ask me when it came to all of the gun statistics, either. Hmmmm...
My kid watches Cat in the Hat, Thomas the Train, Charlie Brown, and loves to play Fallout 3 with me.
@Bert @Playanekes @Sundowner Â
Urban legend, but I love the man!
@Playanekes @Sundowner Mr. Rogers was like a navy seal prior to tv
@Sundowner @Playanekes LOL! I regard Mr. Rogers as one of the greatest American children's heroes.  They say he was as good in real life as he was on the show.
Electric Company is still kickin'. PBS Kids is outstanding.
@Playanekes Chuckled a bit at your comment up top.  Even when my son was really young he wondered why Daniel wore the fake watch.  The reason I loved my kids watching "Mr. Rogers" is because it was so calming after "Sesame Street" and "Electric Company"....it calmed them down just in time for dinner.Â
@Sundowner @Playanekes Makes you wonder.
@Playanekes Ehhh...they didn't ask me to be part of the study either. Â