June 16, 200719 yr 'Hermit' children hooked on TV and computer games By LAURA CLARK - More by this author » Last updated at 22:00pm on 15th June 2007 Comments (1) Children as young as four are addicted to TVs and computers following a 30 per cent rise in screen viewing time in a decade, a study has revealed. Rising numbers are so fixated on their favourite shows or video games they switch them on as soon as they get up – and become moody and depressed when dragged away, say experts. Children questioned for the study blamed their parents for not spending enough time with them on activities such as playing in the park. Scroll down for more ... According to figures revealed in the research, youngsters aged 11 to 15 spend an average of 52 hours a week sitting in front of some form of screen – up from 40 hours in 1996. But an overload of screen media is causing some children to display signs of addiction. Screen ‘bingeing’ is producing a generation of ‘modernday hermits’ who prefer to be cooped up inside rather than out with friends and family. ‘As with other addictions the screen becomes all-consuming – for instance, watch out for kids who simply think of the screen as soon as they wake up,’ says the guide by researchers Teresa Orange and Louise O’Flynn. Some children also wake early on purpose to grab more time with their favourite shows. Another sign is children appear to be ‘screen-blinkered’ and have difficulty completing tasks such as reading or written homework. The authors – both mothers – recommend parents enforce a brief ban on all screen entertainment and a gradual reintroduction of limited amounts. Too many hours absorbed in screen entertainment can lead to behavioural problems such as impulsive outbursts and depression, claims the guide. There is also a knock-on effect on school work as children risk attention problems and poor speech development. Parents should limit viewing to two hours a day and keep TVs out of bedrooms, says the guide. The book’s poll by BMRB found 11 to 15-year-olds spend 31 hours a week in front of the TV, five watching DVDs, seven on the computer and nine surfing the Internet. This includes screen time at school and gives a total of 52 hours – up from 40 in 1996 and 38 in 1994. Mrs O’Flynn said screen addiction ‘can start very early – from about four onwards’. She added: ‘Computer games are particularly bad with boys. With girls it is TV, TV soaps and games such as The Sims. ‘There can be behavioural problems such as bad language and fighting and children can be left with a depressing feeling after watching too much.’ The book – How to Stop Your Kids Watching Too Much TV – suggests keeping a media diary to assess screen habits. It even recommends ‘devious’ techniques to cut viewing, such as ‘losing’ discs while tidying up.
June 16, 200719 yr Author :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: This happened to you??:P
June 16, 200719 yr Wow.... Well as a 14 years old and of course I'm still growing, I really shocked and maybe today I will get trauma from myself... Avoid some addict things like these... And you know what, everyday I always playing computer especially in the afternoon-night.. And watching TV after playing computer and I guess my habit are really bad...
June 16, 200719 yr i did this paper for school and i found 90 percent of people watcvh tv regularly by 2 in the US. its not a problem, its just becoming expected
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