By the Numbers

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pediatricians counsel parents to limit children’s television viewing to no more than one to two hours of quality programming daily and remove television sets from children’s bedrooms.

In a survey published today in the journal Pediatrics, a diverse sample of 180 children and at least one of their parents and guardians from three cities (Philadelphia, Chicago and Richmond, Va.) were asked about their TV habits. According to the survey:

* The average home had four television sets.

* 63% of the homes had a television in the child’s bedroom.

* 98% had a television set in the living room.

* 77% had a television set in the parents’ bedroom.

* 46% had television sets in the kitchen or dining room.

* Children, on average, reported watching television about three hours (189 minutes) a day.

* Parents, on average, reported their children watched 116 minutes a day.

* About one-quarter of parents had rules to limit hours of television watching by their children, usually specifying two hours a day or less.

* A recent survey of pediatricians reported that while three-fourths were aware of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines, only half had made such a recommendation to parents of children in their practice.

Source: Nov. 6 issue of Pediatrics