Ask Dr. Manfroy
My child watches an hour of TV before bedtime to unwind. Is this a good idea?
A mounting body of research links television watching with altered sleep patterns and sleep disorders among adolescents, children, even infants and toddlers.
The reasons are unclear. It may be the bright lights of a television affecting the release of certain hormones regulating the sleep/wake cycle.
Others theorize that watching television before bedtime can psychologically stimulate a young mind and interfere with the relaxation needed to induce sleep. This theory is supported by evidence showing that violent television shows can negatively impact children's behavior. We see this when children karatechop their parents into submission after viewing an episode of Power Rangers.
Consider a Bedroom-TV Ban
If your child is watching TV in the bed before going to sleep, this raises more issues. A child's bed should be for sleeping and not much else. Non-sleep activities such as TV watching, or even "time-outs," interfere with proper sleep hygiene.
Is it even appropriate for children to have a television in their room? Research shows such placement increases a child's average TV viewing by one hour a day. This is of no small consequence when you consider the average child in the United States already watches nearly 20 hours of TV per week and, in the process, is exposed to almost 40,000 commercials per year.
This increase in sedentary time can lead to weight problems, as shown by several studies linking television viewing with pediatric obesity.
The bottom line? Keep television to a minimum – two hours a day or less as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Avoid bedtime television watching, especially stimulating shows, and move the TV out of the bedroom!
Pierre Manfroy, MD, is a local pediatrician with Northeast Pediatrics, serving as an editorial consultant for Young and Healthy.
