We debate how much sex, substance abuse, and violence kids have to see before they internalize it and start to practice it themselves. We seem to have crossed the line on decency, but fortunately TV is something we can actually control, unlike other social and economic forces. Estimated averages range from 3 to 6 hours of TV watching each weekday with more on weekends. This means that kids are actually spending more time watching TV than learning. There is clearly a connection between the amount of TV a child watches and his or her school achievement.
Studies indicate there are good reasons for parents to limit TV time for young children.
In adolescence, kids who watch lots of TV tend to be more aggressive. Dr. Tom Van der Voort, a Dutch researcher conducted large studies of the relationship between TV viewing and academic achievement. Death does not seem final, violence is glorified. When a child spends time reading, better reading skills will develop. The opposite is true with television.