Despite the popularity of the Internet, television is still the most popular medium for kids and can occupy up to 13.9 hours of a child's time each week according to Ofcom (Office of Communications)

Jo Frost, star of Channel 4's Supernanny, agrees. She says: 'Children are spending more time in front of the TV, whether it's playing games or watching DVDs. The TV is even being used as a babysitter.'

These days TV is being blamed for a host of kids' problems, from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) to hindering their academic development. But is it really that bad or can TV in the right doses be beneficial and educational?

Does TV help or hinder?

In April 2007, Dr Aric Sigman, an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, recommended that children's viewing be rationed to help reduce learning and health problems. He prescribes no TV at all for under-threes; 30 minutes to one hour for three to seven-year-olds; one hour for seven to 12-year-olds; one and a half hours for 12 to 16-year-olds and two hours for 16-year-olds and over, per day.

A report in the New Scientist in July 2005 said the quality of what children watch on TV may even influence academic achievement. The report, based on research by the American Academy of Paediatrics, recommends that children watch a maximum of two hours of TV per day and that children under two years old watch none at all.

Another US study published in the Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (July 2005) found that children aged around eight years with a TV in their bedroom showed a weaker performance in their school tests than pupils without a TV in their room.

But some argue that certain educational programmes can encourage important cognitive development. A report entitled Can television be good for children? by Dr Kaoruko Kondo from the University of Westminster's Communication and Media Research Institute, says children can develop different types of skills through watching television.

It states: 'As children acquire more experience of television, their ability to comprehend its content and translate those meanings into learning increases.'

Jo Frost agrees that TV is not to blame for childhood problems, adding: 'The TV doesn't have arms and legs. It serves a purpose for entertainment and education. What we really need to ask ourselves is "what is the TV disguising?" Are we using it because we struggle with activity ideas and interaction or is it lazy behaviour, replacing the times we could be creative with our kids?

'Dr Sigman has recognised that parents are abusing TV viewing but it is about balance. Don't be regimental or create a 'nanny state', be responsible. The time spent watching TV replaces human interaction and the time children can learn from their parents.'

Liz Attenborough, manager of the National Literacy Trust's Talk to Your Baby campaign, says: 'We wanted to know if television really is to blame for the difficulties in communication that many young children seem to have when they arrive in school.

'What we found is that there are many social and cultural factors that have an impact, but that in the right circumstances television may be useful for young children's language development.

'Television has been part of our popular culture for over 50 years and continues to be so, and by itself is neither the cause nor the answer to language issues. What is important is that parents and carers are aware of the pros and cons of TV watching and maximise the opportunities while diminishing potential risks.'

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