The best way to handle how much television and video your toddler watches is to think of them as refined sugar: You want your child to enjoy this seductive stuff without consuming too much. TV viewing has been linked to obesity in children, among other problems, so it's a good idea to stay on top of the time your toddler spends in front of the screen.
The average American child watches more than four hours of TV a day, despite a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that kids 2 and older watch no more than one to two hours daily. The AAP recommends that kids under 2 watch no television at all.
Setting limits from day one is the key to keeping viewing time under control. You're in charge and it's your job to give guidance when it comes to television. It's a lot easier to relax your standards later than it is to wean an 18-month-old from a three-times-a-dayDora or Blue's Clues habit.
Here are tips on how to use television as a learning tool.
