A study has revealed three-year-olds exposed to too much TV, either directly or indirectly, are at risk of developing aggressive behaviour.

The U.S. study found that, along with pre-schoolers watching inappropriate content on the box, the TV viewing habits of the entire household could have a detrimental impact on a child's development.

By-products of excessive TV viewing, such as irregular bedtimes leading to lack of sleep, less outside play or creative interaction with toys and a lack of parental discipline, may result in the release of pent-up aggression.

"Television exposure may act directly to increase aggression by providing models for aggressive behaviour or normalising the behaviour,"said the study published in the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

IS TV TURNING OUR CHILDREN INTO MONSTERS?

The study also found those households with heavy TV use were more likely to have fewer restrictions on other activities, such as enforcing a regular bedtime for toddlers. Many parents involved in the study admitted to using TV as a babysitter. Researchers suggested excessive TV viewing often ate into time that should be spent on activities that could foster healthy child development, such as reading or playing.

Watching TV with their parents may even increase the likelihood of toddlers being exposed to violent or inappropriate material.

"Co-viewing with parents is more typical when children are watching programs parents want to view," researchers found.

Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the latest study reaffirmed the importance of activities such as play and sleep in a child's development.

"The problem with plonking kids in front of the TV is it doesn't excite their imagination. A lot of kids forget how to think," he said.

Australian Council on Children and the Media president Jane Roberts said rather than make parents feel guilty about the impact of TV in the home, the secret was balance.

"It's about knowing what children are watching and making sure there's a balance," she said.




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