Should Kids Have a TV in Their Bedroom?
When kids want to watch their favorite TV show, many of them head to their bedrooms instead of the family room. According to the American Medical Association, almost two thirds of kids between the ages of 10 and 14 have a television in their room.
This worries some parents and doctors, many of whom think that kids already watch too much TV. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that, on average, kids with a television in their bedroom watch one more hour of TV each day than other kids do. Health experts say that too much tube time can lead to obesity and other health problems. Many people are also concerned that having a TV in the bedroom prevents kids from hanging out with friends and spending quality time with their family.
But others think having a TV in the bedroom isn’t a bad idea, as long as kids don’t overdo it. In one survey, parents said that having separate TVs leads to fewer arguments over what to watch. They also point out that parents can still monitor what their kids watch by using parental controls to block inappropriate shows.