We all know our kids are busy with all kinds of so-called electronic media, but does it really have an impact on them. Well, two studies this week published in JAMA Pediatrics may make you reevaluate what happens in your home.

The first study looked at overall well-being in children in association with electronic media use.  

Their study found that watching television, using computers and playing electronic games, was associated with poorer well-being in children.
 
We know that the use of all of the above means sedentary behaviour and sedentary behavior is associated with health outcomes. But what about the very young?
 
The authors used data from the European Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) study to examine the association of using electronic media between ages 2 and 6 years and the well-being of children two years later. Questionnaires looked at well-being, including emotional and peer problems, self-esteem, emotional well-being, family functioning and social networks.
 
Among 3,604 children, electronic media use appeared to be associated with poorer well-being. Watching television appeared to be associated with poorer outcomes more than playing electronic games or using computers. The risk of emotional problems and poorer family functioning increased with EACH additional hour of watching TV or electronic game and computer use.
 
The authors point out that higher levels of early childhood electronic media use are associated with children being at risk for poorer outcomes with some indicators of well-being.  

In a second research article, the association of Study TV, video games with BMI changes was studied.
 
The study found that more monitoring of the time children spend watching TV or playing video games appeared to be associated with lower body mass index (BMI).

You have heard it many times before. Children's media consumption (time spent in front of TVs and computers) is associated with childhood obesity. However, parental influences, such as media monitoring, have not been looked at. In other words can we make a difference?
 
The authors examined  parental monitoring of their children's exposure to media and general activities with the children's BMI.

The study looked at 112 mothers, 103 fathers and their 213 children at age 5, 7 and/or 9 years.
 
Less monitoring by mothers of the time their children spent watching TV or playing video games was associated with higher BMI for children at age 7 and increasing  between the ages of 5 to 9 years. The finding was not seen for paternal monitoring.
 
The association between lower maternal media monitoring and higher child BMI was explained by a tendency for these children to spend more hours per week watching television and playing video games. Child media time has direct effects on BMI, and is a prime target for family intervention. Bottom line - moms get active in saying NO!!