In many homes, it's on an hour or so in the morning and again from right after school until bedtime. And although many positive shows are on the air, children can see many negative things on TV, too, Bales said. Children who spend three or more hours a day using visual media such as TV or video games tend to have less success at school and poorer reading skills, she said. They tend to be less physically fit, too, than children who spend more time playing outside. She notes, too, how quickly children begin to mimic the things they see on TV, particularly violence.
Children act out what they see.
If they see others taking turns, they practice taking turns. If they see aggression, they tend to fight. After watching Power Rangers, they want to 'become' Power Rangers. Family TV time Bales said it's important that parents watch shows with their children, rather than letting the TV set babysit. When the whole family watches a show, parents can screen shows for content they don't want their children to see, she said.