MEDIACOM-RELEASE-ROYAL-AUSTRALASIAN-COLL
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS PUTS CHILDREN AND TV UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Excessive or unsupervised television viewing by New Zealand children is leading to developmental problems, obesity and
poor social skills, according to a book, launched by the Minister for Social Service, Work and Income, Roger Sowry in
Wellington today.
Titled Getting in the Picture: a Parent's and Carer's Guide for the Better Use of Television for Children, compiled by
the Australian and New Zealand Divisions of the Paediatrics of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the
booklet cites research which suggests that babies only four months old are already watching an average of 44 minutes a
day of television.
By the time that a child reaches adolescence, he or she has spent more time watching TV than attending school.
"Because television has become almost a universal experience of childhood, the health and developmental effects of TV
are important," Mr Sowry said.
"Television viewing can be relaxing and a useful activity for young children and there are many ways in which parents
and carers can help children get the best out of watching TV.
"Parents must understand that supervising children's television use is an important as supervising their nutrition and
schooling.
"This booklet not only points out the pitfalls of excessive TV viewing, but offers practical ways for families to use
television positively."
Dr Peter Watson, who assisted with the New Zealand version of the book, said research has shown that often excessive
television viewing by children is an indicator of wider family or social problems.
"For example, television may be used as a form of babysitting, which can lead to a child being neglected, or children
may use TV as an escape from stress and conflict," Dr Watson said.
"Others may simply fall into the habit of excessive television viewing because parents or carers do not actively involve
themselves in supervising the use of the TV.
"The College is not advocating that children be banned from watching television - on the contrary - television can be
enjoyable and educational for children.
"We are suggesting that children's viewing habits be supervised and out booklet offers a range of effective strategies
for parents and carers to share with children to ensure they make the best use of television as part of a healthy
lifestyle."
"This can result in children playing outdoors less which contributes to obesity, as well as children becoming overly
influenced by television program stereotypes," he said.
Other research findings in the book include:
* By 30 months of age many New Zealand and Australian children
are watching an average of 84 minutes a day of TV, extending
to two and a half hours a day by the time the child is four
years of age;
* The average household views more than 22 hours of TV a week,
with the most popular timeslot between 7 pm and 8 pm;
* Children in day care, or those whose mothers work outside the
home, tend to watch less television than those who are at
home all day;
* The more TV children watch, the less sporting activities they
undertake;
* Children lose weight when they reduce the amount of
television they watch and increase their physical activity:
* From an early age (2-3 yrs) children can understand, in a
very basic sense, and memorise the literal aspects of what
they see - the features, the action, the dialogue.
"We hope that this guide will be just as useful to parents as the TV guide," Dr Watson said.
The booklet can be obtained from the RACP by phoning (04) 472 6713
ENDS....
MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
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THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
What Is The Royal Australasian College of Physicians?
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (the College) comprises a Fellowship of medical specialists who are
committed to providing the highest quality of care in internal medicine, paediatrics and sub-specialties to all people
in Australian and New Zealand. Core functions of the College include training, accreditation and the maintenance of
professional standards, as well as research and policy in areas such as workforce, public health, health financing and
systems development.
The Division of Paediatrics is part of this management structure and includes the majority of consultant paediaticians
in Australia and New Zealand. Within the Division of Paediatrics the Chapter of Community Child Health is a group of
consultant paediatricians and other health care professionals interested in community child health and welfare.
Why is the College Involved?
Because television has become almost a universal experience of childhood, the health and developmental effects of
television are important. Therefore the College sees that it has a role to raise the profile and discussion about these
issues. Children's television viewing habits must be supervised in the same manner as their schooling and nutrition.
This may be difficult for parents who must asist their children to resist television marketing and peer pressure from
their friends about what, and how much, television they watch.
Health care professionals, like paediatricians, can help parents and encourage the industrty to take more action to
ensure that children benefit from watching television.
Using This Booklet
This booklet provides parents and carers with information about how to make television viewing a more useful and
positive activity for children.
RELEASED VIA MEDIACOM
(Correcting Previous Release)
Getting in the Picture: a Parent's and Carer's Guide for the Better Use of Television for Children, compiled by the
Australian and New Zealand Divisions of the Paediatrics of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) was
launched today by Associate Minister of Social Services, Work and Income, Peter McCardle.
The book was to be launched by the Minister for Social Service, Work and Income, Roger Sowry in Wellington today however
Mr Sowry was unable to attend.
ENDS....
MEDIA ADVISORY FROM THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
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