Research shows strong associations between TV in the bedroom and numerous health and educational problems. Children with bedroom TVs score lower on school tests and are more likely to have sleep problems. Having a television in the bedroom is strongly associated with being overweight and a higher risk for smoking.
After that, and up to the age of 12, it's recommended that they have only one hour of viewing a day. For children on the younger end of that spectrum, that time should also be supervised. Putting a TV in a child's bedroom dramatically increases the likelihood of them going over those thresholds.
This is usually something they learn as they grow older, so it may be worth waiting until your kids are mature enough. There is no one-size-fits-all age, but I'd say waiting until your youngsters reach their teens (around 14 years old) is ideal.
The average American home has 2.3 TVs. However, a new study suggests you might want to avoid putting one in your child's room. Scientists studied 1,859 boys and girls. They found kids with TVs in their bedrooms at age four displayed more unhealthy habits by age 12.
Between 18 and 24 months screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver. For children 2-5, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days. For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.
Under 2 years old: Zero screen time, except for video chatting with family or friends. 2-5 years old: No more than one hour per day co-viewing with a parent or sibling. 5-17 years old: Generally no more than two hours per day, except for homework.
TV-14: parents strongly cautioned — not recommended for kids younger than 14; contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong language (L), and intensely suggestive dialogue.
Sleep medicine specialist Antoinette Rutherford, MD, said that's a habit we need to break. “If you have a TV in your bedroom, turn it off,” she said. Better yet, don't have a TV in your bedroom at all. “The light and noise are very disruptive to your sleep.”
A TV in the bedroom could provide you with methods for increasing comfort, relaxing, and even increasing intimacy with your companion. We know that sleep is a very personal experience. So, when it comes to deciding whether or not to have a TV in the bedroom, only you know what works best for you.
Based on these guidelines, a 32 to 43-inch TV is generally a good choice for a smaller bedroom with a viewing distance of 6 to 8 feet. A 50 to 55-inch TV may be more suitable for a larger bedroom with a viewing distance of 8 to 10 feet.
An estimated 71 percent of American kids ages 8 to 18 have a TV in their room.
Old Age. If your TV is more than 6 years old, whether it is still working or not, consider getting a new one. Older technology is often not compatible with the newer technology coming out today. This could cause connectivity issues with devices and even issues when streaming shows and movies.
Though many people use television as a way to relax before nodding off, falling asleep to your TV can actually be damaging to your sleep quality. Learn why, and how you can catch up on the latest Game of Thrones episodes without compromising your night of sleep.
Why do so many feel the need to watch something to be able to fall asleep? Television tricks the mind into thinking it is helping sleep when it's the very thing that makes falling asleep difficult. Television provides a similar effect to white noise machines by producing a constant sound at a steady volume.
Con: It can lower your melatonin production
Exposure to light at night, including blue light, lessens the production of melatonin in the body, a hormone that influences our circadian sleep cycles and makes us feel drowsy before it's time to go to bed, according to the Sleep Foundation.
It doesn't make you weird to opt out of watching television in your daily routine. No, that makes you smart. I have a television, but I honestly don't need it. I can read the news through a website, I can watch every movie and show I want, so why do I need a television.
There are quite a number of things that can be bought instead of a TV. Artworks, bookshelves, fireplaces, and extra sofas are some of the things that can be used instead of a TV for the living room with no TV designs.
There are several companies or TV stations not subject to the FCC's rules that have broken the general implied rule that "crude indecent" language (ex. multiple F-bombs) is not allowed at the TV-14 rating.
A Netflix Kids profile (intended for ages 12 and under) will only play TV shows and movies carefully selected for kids, and it won't allow access to account settings or Netflix mobile games. All Kids profiles have an icon that says “kids” so you can easily identify them.
Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
Pediatricians generally recommend keeping children under 18 months from viewing screens.
Max Stossel, the founder and CEO of Social Awakening, a group that promotes healthy use of technology and social media, recommends that parents hold the line on giving kids smartphones until at least eighth grade.
Establish Clear Rules
Establish rules that will keep your teen safe and help your teen make good choices with video games, cell phones, TVs, and computers. Examples of good rules include having a set time when screens need to be turned off at night and removing screens from bedrooms.