Time spent watching TV could be better spent on constructive activities. The AAP recommends that parents limit children's television viewing to 1 to 2 hours per day, and spend more time on activities such as reading, athletics, physical conditioning and alternative hobbies. American children view over 23 hours of television per week. Teenagers view an average of 21 to 22 hours of television per week. By the time today's children reach age 70, they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching television.
Television contributes to obesity.
Children who watch a lot of television are less physically fit, because television takes time away from physical play. TV advertising and programming can adversely affect learning and behavior of children and adolescents and detract from time spent reading or using other active learning skills. American children have viewed an estimated 360,000 advertisements on television before graduating from high school. American children view nearly 2,000 beer and wine commercials per year on television. By age 18, young people will have viewed an estimated 200,000 acts of violence on television alone.