Government wants kids watching less TV

[Beckstar]

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/childhood-policy-straight-out-of-fantasyland-20091019-h38f.html

Fantasyland?

I think this is fair enough, of course children should be playing/talking/reading/singing/digging/learning with their family/friends rather than watching TV. One hour a day is enough for a frazzled parent to "have a break" if that's what is needed. Our children need US to be their main influence, not tv shows and especially not all the advertising!

[Rinelle]

I think it is yet another case of the government interfering in parent's business.

I also think all kids are different. Our TV is monitored, we watch only DVD's, no free to air TV, so no advertising, and yes, there are some days we watch more than an hour a day. In fact, DD is obsessed with a couple of documentaries lately, and is watching them repeatedly. I choose to think she's learning, and let her self regulate (to a degree).

[mummabare]

I personally would prefer if they put more effort into monitoring what sh*t they put on telly, rather then going to the individual level of monitoring what and how much people are watching. just mho.

[JAK]

Well, I think it's a great idea. Remember, it's only guidelines and we all know that a guideline isn't a ban. If it gets some parents to reconsider the amount of tv watching by their children, then it's great.



But parents need government to help them make a difference. Some children are born into a world rich in resources and experiences while others are deprived from the start. And this is where the Government should focus its attention.

I think this is important too. The government recognises the importance of those early years and what helps childrens development. They also need to ensure that there's more equality in those resources for all children. Children living in poverty without access to basic things like books, a few toys, adequate nutrition etc shouldn't be acceptable in our country.

[lindylou]

It may be idealistic, but guidelines should be 'best practice' or something to aim for IMO.

Having 3 children under 2 years of age and no support from others, meant that I did and still do use TV or DVD's for some part of the daily routine- I simply cannot be everything all of the time (but I do my best :-)). I am selective about what they view though and also time spent in front of the TV. We don't watch morning or evening TV- just something over the hotter part of the day as a rest time activity.

Oh and I also think that the government should do its bit too. It is very easy for a bureaucrat to sit in an office and type off a set of guidelines...much more costly and difficult for the government to actually DO something such as banning marketing of junk food and plastic toys to children!

[Pinky]

I don't know what its like in Oz but here in Canada we are bombarded with TV for kids.. and it is mostly crap... and sooooo much advertising.

Even Tree House that isn't supposed to advertise has a little "this show is brought to you by _________, have fun" very often the _________ is McDonald's, Walmart or Chuck-E-Cheese. My daughter who's never been to any of these places knows what they are and can recognize the logos...

If the government was serious they'd ban advertising for children under age 12 like they do in Sweden. If there are no advertisers you'd be surprised how many children's shows would not get made.

remember when we were kids? there was ONLY 1 hour of kid T.V. a day and then Sat morning there were 2 or 3 hours of cartoons! what a treat...

now kids can watch kids TV shows whenever they want (a la dvds) and they can watch Treehouse 24/7.

[Pinky]

It may be idealistic, but guidelines should be
Oh and I also think that the government should do its bit too. It is very easy for some bureaucrat to sit in an office and type off a set of guidelines...much more costly and difficult for the government to actually DO something such as banning marketing of junk food and plastic toys to children!

OMG.. I HATE that it is allowed. My husband took my daughter to Wendy's one time and she got the kids meal... she still talks about how she wants to go there and get food.. (she doesn't eat it.. she doesn't like fries... but she wants to go there for the TOYS)

oh it drives me crazy.. there outta be a law!

[lindylou]

Pinky I sincerely hope that there WILL be a law in the not too distant future...unfortunately it won't really be effective for our children...but maybe the next generation.

I agree that it is a total disgrace.

[JAK]

One of the reasons by the guideline isn't to do with advertising. It's to do with the development of the brain in the first two years and excessive tv watching in those years has a negative effect on the development of the brain.

Personally, if people allow their children to watch a little tv, I couldn't care less. I think the people they probably are trying to target are those who plonk their children infront of tv for hours.

Then again, this doesn't affect me with my 11yr old and already ban on tv.

[Rinelle]

Actually, I'm yet to be convinced that TV is any more negative to the brain than reading books are. My mum has told me that when she was young, they used to get told that reading too many books was bad for them, and they should get outside and play. I can't even imagine anyone saying their kids read too many books these days.

It's not going to affect me, any more than any of the government's other 'regulations' anyway, but I still think it's just one more thing for parents to feel guilty about.

[MenkyFrog]

Having read all of the research on it I am very convinced it is not great for young people (older people too for that matter!).

TBH I would be really angry if I found out that the government had possessed this data and not produced anything to inform the wider community. We can all say that we are against them interfering but really guidelines are just there to assist in our decision making.

My kids have watched too much tv on occasion but I am not going to pretend I think it is okay - I don't! I don't feel guilty about it. I try really hard to make sure that it is an informed choice on my part.

ALL of the evidence I have read says it is not good for kids. I can't refute it!

[littlemissnaughty]

definately a lot of evidence that TV is bad for kids development but it also has some benefits too. My kids watch far too much TV, but ut's mostly DVD's but they still have advertising for other DVD's on them, at least it's not merchandise though.

It will be intersting to see how much advertising for these guidelines actually come through on TV too. There are a lot of people who don't read newspapers, or internet news, plonk their kids in front of the TV, may or may not watch the news, where are they going to know that these guidelines exist?

[Blossomtime]

Interesting that they are releasing these guidelines while creating a children's television channel (ABC3)...

I do think its probably a good idea that guidelines are there because there are many peole who wouldn't consider that TV might not be great for young children. We are TV free here, but watch DVDs and iView and some days they watch lots, most days its none. I'm happy for them to self regulate...

[chooky]

please note that while im writing this I have the tv on in the background (DD is asleep) with the ZUMBA body fitness infomertial playing!

I hate that I am somewhat of a tv addict.... I know its unhealthy because I lie about how much I watch and can't wait till DD is asleep or somewhere else so I can have it on. And I watch crap like DR Phil

I don't want DD to be like me! I try not to let her watch it at all - if I do its usually only playschool or a cartoon so I can have a shower. We also have a wiggles dvd we have watched together as a 'dance' session when Iwas really stuck for something to do.

I feel really guilty when we watch it... I know that no tv is beneficial for kids under 2.

[SeaStar]

My girls are watching wizard of oz atm, we watch mostly dvds here too, there time is regulated and well balanced with a variety of activities inside and out, I certainly don't need the government to tell me how much tv they can watch, thanks all the same!

[Rinelle]

All the evidence I have read is strictly relational based. Ie, kids who watch above a certain amount of TV are more likely to have a certain trait. As far as I know, no actual causal research has been able to be done, as it would almost certainly violate ethical standards. The only way to prove that TV is bad, is to take two groups, and randomly assign one group to watch a certain amount of TV, and another not to. Anything else has too may extraneous variables to be considered valid in my opinion.

For example, while you might say that watching TV has caused a certain trait in children, it could just as easily be that trait that has lead to more TV watching. Or it could even be a third variable (such as parental guidance), that has influenced both.

As I said, we don't have TV. We watch DVD's (and I haven't noticed any having advertising?), and far less of them than we used to.

[cass]

Personally, if people allow their children to watch a little tv, I couldn't care less. I think the people they probably are trying to target are those who plonk their children infront of tv for hours.


Absolutely, my in-laws do that very thing. Even last week I visited my Aunt, she had her grand-daughter plonked down at 9am in front of the tv. Despite there being 3 of us around to help amuse her.

Also...I honestly believe this is the same sort of approach that the governement took with the '3 drinks makes you an alcoholic (or some such)' from a couple of years ago. The really important thing is the debate and discussion that stems from it.

Personally I am all for the government new recommendations (she types as her husband says "come on Cass...lets watch Spicks and Specks....:laugh)

[lindylou]

I checked out "Get Up & Grow" today whilst at work. The guidelines are designed to encourage national uniformity for Early Childhood settings with regard to nutrition and physical activity recommendations.

There is a suite of resources (Directors Book, Staff Book, Carers Book, Cook Book, posters, etc) and they are based on The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia incorporating the infant feeding Guidelines for Health Workers (2003), and The National Physical Activity Recommendations for Children 0 – 5 years.

I am going to order the resources and check them out further, but the information I have seen so far is pretty impressive.

[Eilleen]

Yep the Guidelines are actually aimed at childcare and early learning organisations - there are many childcare organisations that plonk children under 2yrs in front of a TV for a couple of hours every day (while they clean up etc).

[Madi]

Yep the Guidelines are actually aimed at childcare and early learning organisations - there are many childcare organisations that plonk children under 2yrs in front of a TV for a couple of hours every day (while they clean up etc).


really? wow - I had no idea.

TV for us is similar to Rinelle. Quality, no commercials, often documentries. As with the computer and books, Hudson self regulates. So sometimes he will have screen days, and other days it doesn't get switched on.

As for the guidelines, I think anything that makes people think about it can only be good. :yes

[Rinelle]

If it's for childcare centres, then I'm totally for it.

[mummabare]

TV for us is similar to Rinelle. Quality, no commercials, often documentries. As with the computer and books, Hudson self regulates. So sometimes he will have screen days, and other days it doesn't get switched on.

Same. Personally if DJ wants to spend 3 hours watching a documentary on egypt...I really don't give a ..you know what. Because he could well go 3 days afterwards with no inclination to watch telly at all.
What I do *hate* is hearing 7 yr old repeat what they saw on southpark. And that tips me over the edge. And it could well be the one and only show they watch...but ...yeah...lets not go there.

There are some great educational shows on during the middle of the day on ABC, and I love it when we have a home day (rare occurance) and we sit together and watch a couple. There was a great one on the other day about depth perception, why things looks smaller the further away they are. Great stuff.