Nielsen Media Research reports kids ages 2 to 11 watched an average two hours and 57 minutes of television per day this last broadcast year, compared with three hours and 25 minutes a decade ago. Whether or not the averages continue to fall, it is certain that there will not be an increase in viewership among children, because their lives are becoming as frantic as their parents. More two-career couples and single parents means children spend more time in day care and preschool starting at an earlier age. Concerns about child safety have prompted more organized after-school programs. The bull market coupled with parents' anxiety about their children's future has led to full employment of piano teachers, gymnastics instructors and companies offering SAT preparation courses.
Boys spend an average of five hours a week playing video games.