Reducing screen time for children.

C hildren in the United States watch an average of 4 hours of television per day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years of age avoid all types of television viewing and that children 2 years of age or older should not be exposed to more than 2 hours per day of entertainment media or “screen time” (ie, time sitting in front of a television or computer screen or playing video games). These restrictions are given for several reasons: v Sitting in front of a television or computer screen is a sedentary behavior, meaning it does not involve much movement or energy. v Increased sedentary behavior contributes to excess weight gain or obesity. v Increased exposure to television or computers may influence a child’s health-related behaviors, such as eating junk food, having positive attitudes about alcohol or tobacco use, delaying language development, and developing aggressive behavior.