I Move We Move - Good For Kids - NSW Government

Young children and TV
Did you know?
• Small screen recreation time (time spent sitting still in front of the television or computer for fun,
not education) is linked to becoming overweight or obese
• Children who watch TV (and the large number of ads for ‘sometimes’ foods) for more than two
hours each day are more likely to have an unhealthy diet, less likely to eat fruit and less likely to
participate in physical activity
• 89% of four to five year olds spend more than two hours watching television, videos or DVD’s
each day
• It is more likely that children will snack on foods that are high in sugar, salt or saturated fat
when watching television
• Children that spend more time watching television in their first two years of life have
poorer brain development including language skills and short-term memory skills
• Violence on television or in movies can impact on children’s behaviour and self-esteem, as
they can not distinguish between fantasy and reality
I Move We Move, The Guide Edition 1 August 2009
AREA HEALTH SERVICE
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