A Closer Look and Hyperactivity and Attention problems

Doctors are now stating more and more that there are significant enviromental factors and causes that can lead to a child becoming hyperactive and having attention problems in school. They are urging parents to look at their child's TV and computer watching time as a leader in the causes to these problems.

WHAT TO DO

According to studies published in the Journal of Pediatrics, hyperactivity and attention deficit are linked to several different "environmental" causes:

-- "Viewing of violent programming by pre-school boys is associated with subsequent aggressive behavior."

-- "Television and computer game exposure affect children's sleep and deteriorate verbal cognitive performance, which supports the hypothesis of the negative influence of media consumption on children's sleep, learning and memory."

-- "Sustained exposure (to television) is a risk factor for behavioral problems.... Children age 5.5 had more social problems if they had 'concurrent exposure' (more than 2 hours of TV daily)."

-- "The association between early television viewing and subsequent attention problems is specific to non-educational viewing and to viewing before age 3."

Everyday more research emerges concluding that early continuous viewing of non-educational programs results in difficulty with sustained attention and concentration in young children.

Television and video games are about immediate gratification, which is the antithesis of school. Video games are about winning regardless of the means and often include violence. Even worse, there are no consequences in a "reality" where you can always press "Reset" and start over.

On the other hand is about sustained attention and perseverance. Rid your home of the games and TV programs that your children emulate.

Educational programming will require listening and sustained attention. This is what school is about. The solution lies with parents having the courage and tenacity to bring peace to their home and into their children's lives.

(Write Dr. Yvonne Fournier, Fournier Learning Strategies Inc., 5900 Poplar, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. E-mail her at drfournier(at)hfhw.net)