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Children’s TV ‘is linked to cancer, autism, dementia’
By ella | March 1, 2007
A report out last week claims that children’s television viewing is linked to cancer, autism, dementia and the onset of early puberty in girls.
Scientist Dr Aric Sigman, writing in the Biologist magazine, identified 15 negative effects that, he says, television can have on youngsters, ranging from short-sightedness and diabetes to premature puberty and autism.
Sigman says that watching television should be banned for children under three years old and severely restricted as they grow older.
So that television I put in the kitchen to help the baby eat?
Oops.
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Read More:
- United Nations report on child well-being in economically advanced nations
- Wi-fi and the potential health risks
Categories: Reports and Research
3 Comments
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Surely it’s not as black and white as all that. Having the telly on for half an hour or so a couple of times each day isn’t at all the same as having your kid sit in front of it all day. And how the heck can telly-watching affect the age of puberty??
Violet - that’s my feeling. ‘Everything in moderation’ as my grandmother would have said. The puberty thing is to do with children being exposed to the television’s bright light in the evenings which supresses melatonin and in the longer term can bring about early puberty in girls.
I would so love to banish the television for good from our house. The few shows that I do watch, I usually download from the Internet and watch from my laptop or on our big monitor. I can’t stand the sound of a television. I’d rather listen to our kids play and entertain themselves.
But, like you, I’m realistic. Your grandmother was a wise woman: everything in moderation is an excellent way to lead one’s life.
We’re bringing home a dog - rescued from a home whose family doesn’t have the time to care for him - this week. Our hope is that his arrival will add another dimension to the things that our children do to fill their days. We’ll see about that, but life’s about to get real interesting around here.
As if it wasn’t interesting already!