- Children spend nearly a year watching TV before they are seven, MP warns
- Tory MP Tim Loughton says children should return to playing outside
- Psychologist suggests children at risk of lifelong dependency on TV
- Research shows 12 to 15-year olds spend six hours a day staring at screens
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Children spend nearly a year slumped in front of the TV or staring at computer screens by the time they are seven, a former children’s minister has warned.
Tim Loughton said this screen addiction in youngsters could cause changes in the brain similar to those seen in cocaine addicts and alcoholics.
In a report titled ‘The state our children are in’ for the charity 4Children, the Tory MP cited research by a psychologist suggesting today’s children were at risk of a lifelong dependency on TV and computer screens.
Telly addicts: Children spend nearly a year slumped in front of the TV or staring at computer screens by the time they are seven, a former children’s minister has warned
The research by Dr Aric Sigman warned that a generation of kids could suffer damage to the body as well as the brain as a result.
In the essay, Mr Loughton called for a crackdown on the ‘health and safety’ mentality that stopped children taking part in rough and tumble activities.
He cited NHS statistics that showed half as many children are being admitted to hospital after falling out of a tree than they were ten years ago.
Fear: MP Tim Loughton said screen addiction in youngsters could cause changes in the brain similar to those seen in cocaine addicts and alcoholics
In contrast, kids are twice as likely to
go to casualty for injuries caused by repetitive strain movements, such
as playing computer games for too long, than a decade ago.
He said: ‘Should the state be intervening to rebalance the average child’s day, when they’re spending – on average – ten times as long on the computer or watching TV as playing outside?
The research by Dr Sigman showed 12 to 15-year olds spend on average more than six hours a day staring at screens.
At the time, he called for a ban for toddlers and severely rationed for other youngsters and will warn that parents who use technology as a ‘babysitter’ could be setting up their children for a lifetime of ill health.
His work and studies by other researchers link time spent in front of screens with health problems including obesity, high cholesterol and blood pressure, inattentiveness and declines in maths and reading, as well as sleep disorders and autism.
In the report, Mr Loughton called for the relationship between the state and families to be rebalanced.
Noting that there had been 100 Acts of Parliament in the last 25 years affecting children, he questioned whether these had ‘strengthened families’.
He said: ‘The approach I have always favoured [is] where the State is there to serve, to enable, to promote the family, not to stifle it, nor to direct or supplant, other than in those severe cases where neglect or cruelty harms the children
The MP for East Worthing and Shoreham also said that a toxic concoction of 24 hour social media, the sexualisation of childhood and pressures to ‘fit in’ and achieve were fuelling a ‘quarter life crisis’ among today’s young people.
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Pepper Sanchez,
Palo Seco, Costa Rica,
1 hour ago
My parents used to throw me out of the house and threaten me with chores if I didn’t stay out. They wouldn’t see me for hours but we had a large yard. I feel bad for kids that are stuck in a condo or apartment. There is nothing wrong with living like that but an outdoor space makes a huge difference.
Just get out,
Chipping Norton, United Kingdom,
3 hours ago
We, as a nation, need to start changing the attitudes of parents, not, say, whether there are certain programmes on TV, whether there are dedicated channels for children etc. It’s bad parenting if stuff like this is true (and I somewhat doubt it) that is the cause of any problem.
Spencer I. Mather,
Bradwell-Great Yarmouth,
3 hours ago
It is all because of bad parenting..!!!
Danny234,
UK, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
1 of the reasons society is the way it is, not socializing by staying indoors for near enough the whole day. Decades ago we used to help each other and treat people with respect, you don’t have that today. Parents don’t help either, I have nothing against computer games or TV as I play myself but I limit it and not spend hours on end. Parents refuse to take it away from kids because 1. it gives the parent an easy life with the babysitter effect and 2. the kids would argue, kick and scream and they don’t want this hassle so they give in to them. It is out of control unfortunately.
Phil,
Essex,
4 hours ago
It is not the children who are harming their brains. It is stupid, lazy parents who allow them to sit in front of the idiot box, instead of getting off their fat behinds to interact with them.
Ken Mist,
Paris,
6 hours ago
And this COULD be a load of old b@llox
ShoutFromMooseHead,
Hampshire, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
Has anyone got any money for such activities or jobs to pay for such things? You cant even take your family out to the beach or park without excessive costs for fuel, parking or travel and I don’t know where Dim Tim lives but most parents are not up for their children going out to play unless they happen to live on a farm and they are much safer in your home in front of the TV.
JJG22,
London, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
According to an article I read in DM a couple of months ago kids were threatened with an asbo for playing in trees/building a fort. So they aren’t allowed to play outside or inside. Maybe they should all just stand still in the corner until they are 18. That should make the masses happy.
Sandy Brown,
London,
6 hours ago
Yes, I agree it is down to the parents to do something about it. I did not see a TV till I was 10. We did not have them in the Far East at that time.
deirdre8,
sheffield, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
My children have barely had the TV on since the nice weather plenty of football’s and.games to play in the garden. In the winter they watch more but they tend to get bored of it and switch it off!!
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