Can Too Much TV Cause ADD or ADHD?

Is Television Harming America's Children?

Many people wonder why so many of today's youth are being diagnosed with attention defecit disorder (ADD) and attention defecit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Recent psychological studies have shown that watching too much tv as a child could actually lead to the development of these disorders. TV and film have changed drastically since their birth, and so has children's programming.

If you turn to an old airing of Sesame Street, the camera stays in one place with a head-on angle and relative slow-moving action. Now, however, cartoons change frames a mile a minute, with bright colors and rapid movements. It's easy to see how spending many hours in front of a television could significantly effect the way a child's brain develops. The human brain continues to develop into a person's early twenties, but the most important years for brain development are the first six years of a child's life. Some parents send young children to daycare where they may be propped in front of a TV all day long, and even parents who stay home with their children may allow the kids to watch lots of TV to keep them out of their hair while they do housework.

It is important that parents undertand how much influence TV can have on the development of their child's brain. A little TV can be good for kids because many programs help them learn things, but parents should keep a close eye on the amount of television their child watches and what types of programs they watch. If a child only watches one or two shows a day and the shows are educational, they probably have much less of a chance of developing ADD or ADHD than a child who sits for hours and hours and watches whatever comes on. It does not take that much more effort for parents to give their kids brain stimulating activities, like coloring books or toys which stimulate the imagination. Even having them help with chores around the house can be a great way to keep their brain and body active as well as learning responsibility.