This Doctor Key in Debate Over Children and TV
Nearly three decades of research on children and television boil down to one central mission for psychologist Dorothy G. Singer, Ed.D.:
"My message is to interact with your children, respect them, value them...but most important of all, get down there on the floor and play with them," says Dr. Singer, a key figure in the debate over TV's effect on mental development.
She and husband Jerome L. Singer, Ph.D., realized the increasing role of television as they studied children's imagination and play in the 1970s. They founded the Family Television Research and Consultation Center at Yale University in 1976.
While others may dispute some of her opinions (she doesn't believe kids under age 3 should watch TV, for example), Dr. Singer's commitment to children has never been in doubt. But the native New Yorker almost pursued a different career.
"At first, I thought I was going to be an archaeologist," says Dr. Singer. "But then I took a few psychology courses, and I realized that I'd rather work with the living than with dead bones."
Dr. Singer, who earned her doctorate at Columbia University in 1963, has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books. She is currently senior research psychologist at Yale. She also helped raise three children -- an experience that she says "enriched and deepened" her research.
Q and A with Dr. Singer
Q. Does excessive TV adversely affect the mental development of children?
Dr. Singer: First of all, I should make it clear that I think television is a wonderful invention. It certainly brought the world much closer to all of us. But like any other communications medium, it should be used carefully, with moderation. And there's plenty of data out there to show that watching TV for long periods each day affects concentration and mental persistence. There's no doubt that kids who are heavily into TV have a shorter attention span and less self-control.
Q. How did you become interested in the effect of TV on children?
Dr. Singer: About 25 years ago, we were doing some research on imagination and play among children. One day at a nursery school, I noticed that when the children were playing, many kept mentioning things they'd seen on television. When they talked about Peter Pan and Wendy, they weren't referring to a book they'd read -- but to a TV special they'd seen. All at once it occurred to us: We've left a variable out of our research: television!
Q. You've said that kids are watching too much TV today. How much is enough?
Dr. Singer: The latest research shows that American children are now watching TV an average of about six hours a day. That's obviously too much. I'd say that for preschoolers, an hour and a half [per day] would be plenty. Older children might be able to watch TV for two hours or so, without adverse effects. As for children 3 and under: I'm really convinced that they shouldn't watch at all. I know I'll be attacked for this, but I think that the preschoolers need human interaction, not TV. I've seen too many little ones in their playpens, staring at TV with this blank look, and that really upsets me.
Q. Should parents set household rules to limit TV?
Dr. Singer: They certainly should. One way to set those limits is to have a daily schedule that includes time for homework, followed by a regular time for TV -- provided that all homework assignments have been completed.
Q. Should kids watch TV while doing homework?
Dr. Singer: I don't think so. How can a child focus properly on homework, if distracted by television?
Q. How about at meals?
Dr. Singer: No, I don't think so. I think that eating your dinner in front of the TV set can quickly become a bad habit. It encourages dependence on the TV set, and it can lead to overeating. It also tends to break down communication between family members.
Q. How about content? Should parents "preview" their children's TV fare?
Dr. Singer: Yes, it's definitely worth the time, in order to get to know what your kids are watching. And that's especially true for the preschoolers. I really believe you have to guide younger children, and you should select the kinds of programs that you find acceptable.
Q. Can you help us with a few shortcuts?
Dr. Singer: Well, using a guide can be very helpful. You can use the Sunday paper, or maybe "TV Guide" magazine. Start by reading the [program] descriptions. Do these sound like the kinds of programs you'd want your children watching? If you have any doubts about a program, tape it and watch it when it's convenient. I also recommend that you try to sit with smaller children as they watch. At the very least, you should keep poking your head back into the TV room every once in a while, to make sure they're OK. Unfortunately, many parents don't do that with their preschoolers. They use TV as a babysitter.
Q. Is there a link between obesity in children and TV?
Dr. Singer: I think the increasing obesity in American kids is an important public health problem. There's no doubt that cutting back on TV-watching -- along with more exercise -- could have a significant impact on obesity.