London - Toddlers who watch too much TV are more likely to go on to be bullied at school, researchers say.
They warn that children over two should watch no more than one to two hours a day, and for every extra 54 minutes above that, the risk of bullying increases by over a tenth.
Watching too much TV stunts a child’s social skills, affecting their ability to make eye contact with peers and making them shy and less able to form friendships, the study found.
They also have less time for play that builds up creativity and social interaction skills.
The Canadian study found the number of hours children spend watching TV at the age of 29 months was linked to the likelihood of being bullied when they are 11 or 12.
Lead researcher Professor Linda Pagani, of the University of Montreal, said: “More time spent watching television leaves less time for family interaction, which remains the primary vehicle for socialisation.
“Early TV exposure is also linked with developmental deficits associated with brain functions that drive interpersonal problem solving, emotional regulation, socially competent peer play and positive social contact.
“Finally, TV viewing may lead to poor eye-contact habits – a cornerstone of friendship and self-affirmation in social interaction.” The findings were based on an analysis of 991 girls and 1 006 boys growing up in Canada.
Professor Pagani, whose study was published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, said: ‘There are only 24 hours in a day, and for children, half should be spent meeting basic needs – eating, sleeping, hygiene – and the remainder spent on enriching activities and relationships.’
Daily Mail