Children's television-viewing habits and the family environment

Article Abstract:

There has been a long and continuing debate on the effects that television viewing has on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents discuss the contents of programs with children, supervise viewing habits, and watch television with their children. It is believed that parents can exert a positive influence on what their children are exposed to by television. A survey of 66 parents posed a variety of questions regarding family environment. The responses were compared with the amount of time educational programming was viewed by the children. All of the parents surveyed had children between the ages of three and eight years. The results of the survey indicate that television was used more frequently for entertainment than for educational purposes. Viewing habits of the children generally followed previously reported patterns, with a decrease in viewing that coincided with the start of school, followed by a later increase. Discussion of program content with their children was reported by 38 percent of the parents. However, there was no association found between the practices of the parents and the quantity of television viewed by their children. In homes where parents exerted little influence over what their children watched, educational television was viewed more frequently than other programs. This implies that children prefer the content of these programs over those offered by commercial networks. Less frequent parent-child viewing was associated with more frequent viewing of educational programs by the children. Paradoxically, the quality of television viewing increased with decreased parental participation. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Surveys, Television viewers, Television and children

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Three-Year Maintenance of Improved Diet and Physical Activity

Article Abstract:

Increasing school-based exercise, improving the nutritional value of school cafeteria food, and teaching young students about healthy habits can effectively and persistently improve the diet and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. Researchers compared 3,714 students in grades 6-8 in 56 schools that participated in the student health intervention and 40 schools that did not (control group). Prior to the intervention, students ate about 33% of their daily calories as fat. By grade 8, students in the intervention schools ate only about 31% calories as fat, while students in the control schools did not significantly change their eating. Students in the intervention schools also vigorously exercised more often than students in the control schools.

United States, Statistical Data Included, Evaluation, Food and nutrition, Study and teaching, Nutrition, Physical education and training, Physical education, Health education, Elementary school students

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Factors parents use in selecting play spaces for young children

Article Abstract:

Parents may differ in the factors they consider in selecting outdoor play spaces for children depending on their ethnicity and income. The parents of 178 Mexican American and 122 white children of an average age of 5 responded to a survey. Both groups rated highly safety and availability of toilets, drinking water, lighting, and shade. However, Mexican American parents rated night lighting, organized activities, play supplies, and drinking water more highly than white parents while white parents rated distance from home, cost of admission, and whether the child's friends go there more highly than Mexican American parents.

Safety and security measures, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Parents, Playgrounds

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