Question: I limit the amount of television my children watch. Should I limit my TV time too?
Dr. Amen's Answer:
No matter what your age, watching too much TV is bad for your brain. Parents hoping to give their children an edge by using infant educational videos, such as Brainy Baby and Baby Einstein, are actually holding them back, according to a report in the Journal of Pediatrics.
For every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old were shown the videos, they knew six to eight fewer words than other children. I suggest following the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends no television for children under 24 months.
TV is bad for adult brains, too. Research has linked TV viewing to an increased risk for depression, ADD, Alzheimer’s disease, a higher body-mass index, and increased cigarette smoking. It is also associated with an increase in the consumption of fast food, fried foods, snack foods, and sugar-laden drinks. Kick the TV habit.
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