(30-10-10) Too much TV, computer can ruin your child's mental health

by Jonathan Benson, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Parents who allow their kids to watch their favorite shows and
play their favorite video games every day may be damaging their mental health.
According to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, pre-teen children
who spend a lot of time in front of television and computer screens every day
are at a heightened risk of developing psychological problems, even if those
children also participate in physical activities.

Based on an analysis of over 1,000 children between the ages of ten and
eleven, researchers found that children who spend at least two hours a day in
front of a screen are 60 percent more likely to have psychological problems
than children who spend less or no time.

Earlier this year, a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics &
Adolescent Medicine found that really young children who watch lots of
television are more likely to develop aggressive behavior (http://www.
naturalnews.com/028096_t...). And just last month, Canadian researchers found
that toddlers who watch television are more likely to have poor health and
perform poorly in school by the time they turn age ten (http://www.naturalnews.
com/029715_t...).

However, the new study adds even more serious problems to the mix. And the
types of psychological problems observed in children who watch too much
television and spend too much time on the computer are not necessarily minor
ones.

"These are big-deal issues, like hyperactivity, difficulty with peers and
friends, poor conduct and antisocial kinds of behavior," explained Dr. Alan
Mendelsohn, an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University
School of Medicine in New York City. And while slightly higher in mostly
sedentary children, the risk for active and athletic children who watch a lot
of television and play on the computer is still roughly 50 percent higher than
children who do not.

"For parents, the key take-away is that TV and computer use may interfere with
children's emotional well-being," added Mendelsohn.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.businessweek.com/lifesty...

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