screen time

Poll

Screen Time: Would You Rather Your Kids Watch TV or Game?

Sit your kid in front of the boob tube and they will be fed entertainment (and some advertising).

Sit your kid in front of the boob tube and they will be fed entertainment (and some advertising). Allow the tots to game and they'll navigate their way through adventures and activities. Screen time has become a popular phrase in the last decade or so when children began using multiple forms of technology to occupy their time — logging on their computers, manning the television remote, and gaming. But, when it comes to how your youngsters spend those weekly hours, do you have a preference of the device?

News

Kids With Nannies Are Less Connected?

Most moms are guilty of letting the boob tube babysit their kids once in a while.

Most moms are guilty of letting the boob tube babysit their kids once in a while. Screen time — be it in front of the television or computer — can give parents a much-needed break to get stuff done and keeps children entertained while they watch their favorite shows, chat with their friends, or play video games. A recent study by a caregiving provider found that a nanny or babysitter's charges spent less time wired and more time outdoors, which makes sense since the person is hired to cater to the child. It said:

Nannies4hire.com conducted a study with nannies and babysitters registered with the online database service. In a survey of 1,000 caregivers, the positive influence of a nanny in the house is clearly felt, as children ages 8-18 are only spending 1.6 hours a day on computers, watching TV, listening to music on iPods or mp3 players, and playing video games, almost 6 hours less than the average child. A surprise added benefit of having a nanny in the home involves the health of these children as well; on average children with a nanny spend 3 hours a day playing outdoors.

Do these findings surprise you?