Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer．     TV and computer games are blamed

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer．

    TV and computer games are blamed for everything from turning our children into a generation of couch potatoes to increased anti-social behavior．Dr ．Aric Sigman an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, believes watching TV too much Puts children at increased risk of health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity．

       If you’re worried about how long your child spends in front of a screen．It may be time to review and modify your family’s screen habits．

       Research firm BMRB estimates young people in the UK aged between 11 and 15 spend ,on average, 52 hours a week in front of a screen．

       In April 2007, he told MPs children under three shouldn’t be exposed to TV at all．

       He recommended children aged between three and seven should watch no more than  30 minutes to an hour of TV a day, seven to 12-yea-olds should be limited to one hour, and 12 to 15-year-olds should watch a maximum of one and a half hours．

       Dr ．Sigman wants the Government to publish recommended daily guidelines for TV watching, as it does for salt intake．

       Both women, who have five children between them, acknowledge that cutting down screen time can be tough． “It needs a bit of effort, but small steps can make a difference so everyone in the family is happier,” says Laura O’ Flynn．

       Keep TVs and computers out of children’s bedrooms．Watching TV before going to sleep doesn’t help children settle．Instead, read a bedtime story or encourage them to read for themselves．Having and who they’re talking to online．

       Good viewing habits start young．It’s difficult to impose rules on teenagers who already watch excessive TV or play computer games for hours on end．

       Help children plan their viewing with a TV guide．This will cut down screen time and help them to become more selective about what they watch．

       Don’t put on the TV as background noise．

       Set viewing limits．Decide with your children how much time they can spend watching TV or playing computer games．Think in 30-minute units．Shorter periods make it easier to switch off and cut down on screen consumption．

       Lead by example．Don’t have a TV in your own bedroom and don’t spend hours watching TV or online．

       Do some activities, such as playing board games or going out on a bike ride to distract their attention from TV or computers．Laura O’ Flynn says: “we went into lots of schools and the children told us they wished their parents would take them to the park and play with them ．”

       Before rushing to throw out your TV set or computer, it’s worth remembering much of the current research focuses on excessive TV watching．Watching TV as a family can be a shared social event and , if you plan your viewing and do something different to look forward to together rather than having the TV on all the time ,it’s all about striking right balance．