Article2004

An Intervention to Reduce Television Viewing by Preschool Children

Barbara A. Dennison · Theresa J. Russo · Patrick Burdick · Paul Jenkins

280 citations0/0 files storedArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

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Child Development and Digital Technology Physical Activity and Health Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Television viewing has been associated with increased violence in play and higher rates of obesity. Although there are interventions to reduce television viewing by school-aged children, there are none for younger children. OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate an intervention to reduce television viewing by preschool children. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial conducted in 16 preschool and/or day care centers in rural upstate New York. PATIENTS: Children aged 2.6 through 5.5 years. INTERVENTION: Children attending intervention centers received a 7-session program designed to reduce television viewing as part of a health promotion curriculum, whereas children attending the control centers received a safety and injury prevention program. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Change in parent-reported child television/video viewing and measured growth variables. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the intervention and control groups viewed 11.9 and 14.0 h/wk of television/videos, respectively. Afterward, children in the intervention group decreased their television/video viewing 3.1 h/wk, whereas children in the control group increased their viewing by 1.6 h/wk, for an adjusted difference between the groups of -4.7 h/wk (95% confidence interval, -8.4 to -1.0 h/wk; P =.02). The percentage of children watching television/videos more than 2 h/d also decreased significantly from 33% to 18% among the intervention group, compared with an increase of 41% to 47% among the control group, for a difference of -21.5% (95% confidence interval, -42.5% to -0.5%; P =.046). There were no statistically significant differences in children's growth between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show that a preschool-based intervention can lead to reductions in young children's television/video viewing. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects associated with reductions in young children's television viewing.

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References

2001Children, Adolescents, and Television 2002Prevalence, Correlates, and Trajectory of Television Viewing Among Infants and Toddlers 1990The prime time diet: a content analysis of eating behavior and food messages in television program content and commercials.

Cited by

2004Television, video, and computer game usage in children under 11 years of age 2012Systematic Review of Effective Strategies for Reducing Screen Time Among Young Children 2011Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Reducing Screen Time in Children 2011A Meta-analysis of Interventions That Target Children's Screen Time for Reduction 2012Influencing factors of screen time in preschool children: an exploration of parents' perceptions through focus groups in six European countries 2011Only Two Hours?2009Factors associated with television viewing time in toddlers and preschoolers in Greece: the GENESIS study 2006Effects of the SMART Classroom Curriculum to Reduce Child and Family Screen Time

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