Tuesday, April 08, 2008



Project Yellow Take 2

I always refused to let the kids have a TV in their bedroom. Eventually they stopped complaining and telling me they were the only ones without their own TVs. It means we all spend our evenings together in the same room, watching TV when we watch it TOGETHER. I like that! Now reading this I feel justified and not just mean mummy!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


While many studies have examined TV viewing habits of young people, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health said little had been known about the consequences in particular for older adolescents of having a bedroom TV.

They questioned 781 adolescents, ages 15 to 18, in the Minneapolis area in 2003 and 2004. Of them, 62 percent reported having a television in their bedroom.

Not surprisingly, those with a bedroom TV were more apt to watch it a lot, clocking four to five more hours in front of a television per week, the researchers said. Twice as many of the teens with a bedroom TV were classified as heavy TV watchers -- at least five hours a day -- compared to those without one.

Girls with a bedroom television reported getting less vigorous exercise -- 1.8 hours per week compared to 2.5 hours for girls without a TV. They also ate fewer vegetables, drank more sweetened beverages and ate meals with their family less often, the researchers said.

Boys with a bedroom TV reported having a lower grade point average than boys without one, as well as eating less fruit and having fewer family meals, the researchers said.

"It really clearly points out that there's some merit to not allowing your child to have a TV in the bedroom," said Daheia Barr-Anderson, one of the researchers.

"When you upgrade your TV in the living room and you have this smaller TV that's out of date but still usable, parents should really resist putting it in one of your children's bedrooms -- and resist the pressure from the child to have a TV in their bedroom," she said in a telephone interview.

8 comments:

Akelamalu said...

Our boys didn't get tv in their rooms until they were well into their teens, mainly because we couldn't afford it. I do agree that tv in a child's room is not a good idea.

Anna said...

Pretty Julie, very pretty. I am so glad you are having fun with this project!

artisbliss said...

We have two 4-year colleges in our small town. When I was in school, the campuses were alive with students outdoors doing things, playing frisbee, walking, studying in the shade. Now, you drive past and there is not a soul to be seen--all indoors on their computer/video games/tv. Sad.

Lovely yellow flower.

Dianne said...

that makes perfect sense

love the flower

Carletta said...

Lovely!
I came from Anna's. Isn't this a fun project!

mrsnesbitt said...

I often hear tales from pupils about what they watch in their bedrooms. It is disgraceful. parents want them out of the way and do not know the scale of horror and violence they witness at young ages.

dot said...

Beautiful shot of the yellow flower!
I agree 100% on having the tv in the bedrooms. If it was up to me I'd probably not have one at all. Thank goodness my children are grown and gone so I don't have to worry about this!

The Quiet Rage said...

What??? University of Minnesota? I resemble that demographic...