Toddlers who watch too much TV more at risk of being bullied

Toddlers who watch too much TV more at risk of being bullied


While there are many educational TV programs that help toddlers learn, parents may want to cut down on the amount of time their children spend on the couch. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Montreal found that those children who watch TV at an early age have a greater risk of getting bullied by the age of 12.

For the study, the researchers followed 991 girls and 1,006 boys from the time they were toddlers until age 12. When the children were about 2 and a half, their parents reported their TV habits. When the children turned 12, the children self-reported whether they experienced bullying at school or not.

After taking into account other reasons for bullying, such as cognitive abilities or family income, the researchers found that those who watched more TV as toddlers experienced more bullying as preteens.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there could be several reasons for this link. First, excessive media use can take away from time spent with the family, which is where a child gains crucial social skills. In addition, too much TV and other electronic device use can lead to attention problems and obesity.

The lead author of the study also added that TV viewing might lead to poor eye contact habits, which is essential to friendship and self-affirmation in social interaction.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children should spend no more than two hours a day watching TV, and the content should be something that helps them developmentally. In one day, children should spend half of the 24 hours meeting basic needs, such as eating and sleeping. The remaining time should be focused on relationship-building and learning activities.

So, the next time your child wants to watch TV, it may be beneficial to encourage them to play outdoors instead.

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