When and How Long Should Your Child Play Video Games and Watch TV?

Parents of young children know that today's hectic lifestyle makes it tempting to use the TV, computer, video games or other electronic devices as virtual "baby sitters." It's not uncommon for parental TV control to consist of tuning in to Nick Jr., Sprout, the Disney Channel or PBS and putting the remote in a safe place while the kids zone in on the latest adventures of Mickey Mouse, the Wonder Pets or Curious George as mom or dad do housework, prepare dinner or pay bills.

This dubious (if completely understandable) technique of parental TV control is practiced by parents of infants and toddlers, as well as parents of preschoolers and older kids. Research has shown that kids age 8-18 are exposed to electronic entertainment via TV, the Internet and video console games an average of 45 hours per week. Yet, for kids age 2-18, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting all exposure to electronic entertainment to two hours per day, or 14 hours per week. The AAP recommends that no children under the age of 2 watch TV or play video games.

Child development experts recommend setting time limits and monitoring usage of TV and video games at an early age in order to help kids develop healthy viewing habits for a lifetime. The Mikko Que is a revolutionary device that helps parents set time limits and monitor TV, video game and Internet usage conveniently and electronically. Invented by two dads who were concerned about the amount of time their kids watched TV, the Mikko Que allows you to exercise parental TV control by creating preset TimeKeys out of ordinary USB thumb drives.

To learn more about this state-of-the-art device and how it can help facilitate greater parental TV control, contact us today.

Media Management for Children ... It's time.