PAEDIATRICIAN Peter Standring has backed a call for parents to limit the number of hours their children watch television. But he said a total ban would be too draconian.
‘Most people would let children watch more TV than is good for them and there are so many better things for children to be doing,’ said the Medical Special Group consultant.
‘I think that banning children under the age of three from watching any television would be a hard rule to implement and it’s not particularly practical.
‘But children do watch too much TV and some of it can be harmful,’ he said.
His comments come after a UK psychologist, Dr Aric Sagman, called on the government to give parents daily TV amount guidelines as happens for salt.
In a new book, Dr Sigman also criticised parents for allowing their children to watch TV in their bedrooms.
‘I think it’s totally inappropriate for children to have a TV in their bedroom.
‘How can parents have any control over what their children are watching, especially after watershed times?’ said Dr Standring.
‘I just don’t know how parents can police that.’
He added that TV was often used as an inappropriate entertainment tool.
‘Children should not be watching certain programmes.
‘But many parents are happy to let their children come home from school and watch two or three hours of television because it means they can get on with the things they need to do.
‘Some programmes are educational and are actually beneficial for children to watch, but a lot of the time children watch TV for the convenience of being entertained rather than because it’s good for them.’
Dr Sigman’s recommended TV times
* Under three: none
* Ages three to seven: 30 minutes to one hour per day
* Seven to 12: one hour
* 12 to 15: one-and-a-half hours
* 16 and over: two hours
Article posted on 24th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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