Parents told to curb kids’ TV and computer game time

EXPERTS said parents should limit the time their children are allowed watch TV or play with game consoles after a study found those who spent too much time at such activities suffer more psychological difficulties.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bristol, found that youngsters who spend hours each day in front of the TV or games console have more psychological difficulties, like problems relating to peers, emotional issues, hyperactivity or conduct challenges, than those who don’t.

And contrary to what earlier studies have indicated, the negative impact of screen time was not remedied by increasing a child’s physical activity levels, says the study, published in the US journal Pediatrics.

The researchers got 1,013 children between the ages of 10 and 11 to self-report average daily hours spent watching television or playing – not doing homework – on a computer. Responses ranged from zero to around five hours per day.

The children also completed a 25-point questionnaire to assess their psychological state, and the time they spent in moderate to vigorous activity was measured using a device called an accelerometer, which was worn around the waist for seven days. The researchers found that children who spent two hours or more a day watching television or playing on a computer were more likely to get high scores on the questionnaire, indicating they had more psychological difficulties than kids who did not spend a lot of time in front of a screen.

Earlier studies have found that while more time spent in front of a screen led to lower well-being, physical activity improved one’s state of mind. That led researchers to believe that upping physical activity could counteract the impact of watching TV or playing on the computer.