TV or not TV?

TV and ADHD

Although this is still a grey area, Jo Frost believes there may be a relationship between TV viewing and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

She says: 'I don't think TV causes it, but it may support ADHD. When children have a short attention span and problems concentrating, they don't often seem to have these problems when they are watching the moving images on TV. Children with ADHD need time, human interaction and attention to help them develop their attention span.'

What makes suitable kids' TV?

She adds: 'I think parents have to be sensible with what we are allowing kids to watch. It's common sense. We need to also recognise that it can be educational and entertaining. Some things on TV are fantastic for children, like wildlife documentaries or programmes about other cultures. Both can help them see the world as a smaller place.'

But Jo says TV should be used for the right reasons. 'We need to ask ourselves why our kids are watching TV and what are we using it for. Is it a babysitter, a way to control our child's bad behaviour or is it a way to get our child to eat? We need to do things in moderation and become more conscious so that TV doesn't become a ritual.

'The TV hides the behavioural issues we are not dealing with. For example if a child doesn't sleep, deal with the behaviour, don't have the TV in the bedroom. It's about communication, repetition and follow-through.'

Is your child watching suitable content?

A recent report in The Observer (27 May, 2007) says that there are now over 20 dedicated 'pay and free-to-air children's channels'. But Jo Frost says that despite the choices it's not that hard to monitor a child's viewing. 'We have gone from four channels to many cable channels but what we can still do is pay an interest to what they are watching. Listen to your children and discuss what you want to watch.'

Manage your child's TV viewing

Do you think your child may watch too much TV? Put some of Jo Frost's techniques into practice:

• Get creative instead - look though books, do a puzzle and stimulate the brain in other ways
• Sign up to a weekly activity class to get your child interested in something else - like music or karate
• Set up play dates for your children with their friends so they have time to interact
• Use the TV when it works best. Let your child watch TV as a special treat
• Use other methods to get your child to unwind instead of watching TV. Create a bedtime routine and environment when everything shuts down, so that things are calmer and quieter

For more information on Jo Frost go to www.jofrost.com

Jo Frost is supporting the Kellogg's Wake Up to Breakfast Campaign to encourage more people to recognise breakfast as the most important meal of the day. For more info, visit www.kelloggs.co.uk/wakeup