Does television affect childrens behaviour.

[amarcland]

I find that when the television is switched off my kids are calmer and they play together better. I would say that keeping the television off as much as possible which can be hard with all the extra TV channels but persevere because it does make a difference as you are having to constantly talk above the noise otherwise and they probably can't comprehend what you are saying. Also I turn the electric off so the lights go out downstairs.when they won't go to bed. Then once they are upstairs they won't want to go back down into the dark

My children tend to ignore the telly unless its something I have specifically put on for them that they want to watch. And they go to bed at bedtime because i tell them to. I do keep lights/tele etc on downstairs as its not my bedtime. It hasn't been a problem for us.

My eldest 2 are only 4 and 2 but rarely watch TV. We usually just put a dvd on near bed to calm them or it's just backing noise on the radio channel while they're playing. They watch it when at my dad's and he says they're not interested in it only when it's dvds.

In a way I think it does, but I think it just depends on the child and how long they've been "exposed" to it.

My 2.5 DD's behaviour gets ratty if she watches more than about 1 hour at a time. Asks for more and more, gets whiney, agitated etc. I try to keep her to 1 hour per day max.

My 3.6yo DS's behaviour is much worse when the TV is on. He get whiney and can't make his mind up what he wants to watch. He's much happier playing without it on. His ability to pay attention to a particular puzzle or toy is much better now that we've restricted it to 2hrs or less per day.