Following is a brief review of research findings. Effects on sensory development Children who are actively playing will have more opportunity to develop their senses than children passively viewing. By its very nature, TV is an impoverished sensory environment. In a recent study comparing TV viewing with laboratory simulated sensory deprivation, researchers found that 96 hours of laboratory induced sensory deprivation produced the same effects on the person as only a few minutes of TV viewing. Normal sensory experience is vital to maintaining a balanced state of mind and body.
Constant movement is required for healthy eye development.
Visual exploration is a prerequisite of seeing, and necessary for developing a sense of depth and perspective. The sense of sight is maturing through age 12. Excessive TV viewing, one of the most passive visual activities, can seriously impair a child's observational skills. Viewing affects not only eye mechanics, but also the ability to focus and pay attention. Hearing Since TV is more visual than auditory, children's sense of hearing is not being fully exercised.