Pediatricians Warn: Limit Television Viewing

Is television the best babysitter for your kids? You might want to find an alternative. New guidelines are being published by the Israeli Pediatric Association regarding children's television viewing. These guidelines address the exposure of children and infants to screens such as TVs, mobile phones, and tablets.

Generally, doctors argue that infants up to the age of two should be completely kept away from television and media. If you want to expose preschool and school-age children, it is important to do so in a very controlled manner. They assert preschoolers should not watch more than one hour per day, and for older children, up to age 8, exposure should not exceed two hours per day.

Research conducted by doctors reveals various damages from screen exposure, including increased obesity, attention disorders, screen addiction, and many other negative effects. They note that research shows children in Israel have the third-highest television viewing rate in the world(!) at four hours per day, and about 30% of children below first grade already have a TV in their room.

Doctors also list several recommendations, including the importance of discussing viewing habits with children: limiting them and explaining the risks of deviation. Furthermore, they advise supervising the content children watch and physically being present to ensure content is appropriate for young children and that scene changes are not too aggressive.

Additionally, doctors recommend not leaving the TV on at home and avoiding developing eating habits in front of the TV, which can lead to obesity - instead, invest in family meal times. They also recommend not placing computers and TVs in children’s rooms and ensuring they do not fall asleep with the TV on, as studies confirm that screen exposure before sleep significantly impairs the quality and duration of children’s sleep.

Doctors further emphasize the importance of the parent-child relationship and recommend that viewing does not replace parental presence, playtime, storytelling, or interactions with peers. "Parents need to understand that children's media exposure time often replaces parental presence, which is crucial for cognitive, emotional, and social development," stress pediatricians in their position paper.

Professor Eitan Kerem, director of the children's hospital at Hadassah, chairman of the Goshen community pediatricians' association, and chairman of the committee that drafted the position paper for the Israeli Pediatric Association, reiterates this parent-child connection, stating that television should not substitute for it. According to him, "It is essential to remember that the time children spend in front of screens is time without parents. Parental presence is meant to increase shared time with children and is also an opportunity to discuss viewed content. Children need parents for cognitive and emotional development, whereas solo screen time increases feelings of loneliness. Parents should spend more time with their children in storytelling, creativity, and imaginative play. Data in Israel show that parents are unaware of the negative consequences of passive viewing, and I hope that following these recommendations, the situation will change."

And what does Judaism have to say about children's education and television?Click and find out.

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