Shock Study: Kids Like Watching TV

Remarkably, someone actually spent money to research this. I could have saved them some dough with the findings of my own research: Just watch the reaction of a kid when you unceremoniously change the channel or shut the television off.

TECHNOLOGY continually invades the lives of most young Australians but the one constant is television, according to new research.

A staggering 94 per cent of all children aged between three and 17, responding to a survey, watched in excess of one hour of TV a day, edging towards two hours for those over the age of eight.

The study, compiled by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, reveals how much technology plays a role in the lives of Australian children. It brought together data from two surveys conducted in 2007.

Interest in other mediums, such as DVDs, videos and computers, both rose and fell depending on age. However, children continued to watch TV at the same participation rates.

DVDs and videos were of most interest to the three to four-year-old age bracket but interest in these seems to have decreased as children got older.

Yes, right around the time they discover the Cartoon Network.

The next study will probably find kids watch more TV during the winter when they spend less time outdoors.