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American Morning

Kids and Media

Aired October 28, 2003 - 09:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us from CNN center to talk about the new Kaiser Family Foundation study and what it says about the media's influence on infants, toddlers and preschoolers -- Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

It's really amazing looking at kids so young. Certainly has been a lot of studies come out about television. But this is 0 to 6 years old, preschoolers and toddlers, to be sure.

What they found, just really quickly, some of the stats, two hours on average a day for all 6 and under children and two-thirds of those 2 years old and under also watching two hours or more of television, videos, something like that.

Here is the way it sort of breaks down in terms of televisions in the household. This has been something that's been the subject of a study now. 99 percent of children live in a home with a television. 50 percent or more have homes with three or more televisions. And 33 percent or so have a television in their own room. And again, we're talking about 6 and under in terms of age.

Many parents see the television not merely as a babysitter, but also potentially as an educational tool, talking about computers, things like that as well. There are some stats on that as well. 48 percent of children under the age of 6 use a computer as well. 70 percent if you get to the 4 to 6 year-old crowd specifically are using computers as well.

The big issue here, Miles, sort of break it down. No one specifically saying in this entire very long study -- which I have here -- no one specifically saying that television is necessarily bad for you. But what they are saying for the most part is that it displaces other potentially more -- activities with more benefits, such as reading in particular. Kids who are watching a lot of television, reading less, and that's a problem -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: It just staggers my mind that one in three under six have a TV in their own room.

GUPTA: I know. You and I didn't have that.

O'BRIEN: No. No.

What are they watching, though? Is it TV, or is it videos? I think a lot of parents think a video isn't quite the same.

GUPTA: Right, it's sort of interesting actually. They broke this down very specifically as well, in terms of the types of media that children are looking at here. You can see the number, 79 percent actually listen to music daily. That's actually the most common. 65 percent reading books. So there is still reading going on, just less of it. 63 percent watching television. So large numbers there -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: What about boys and girls? did the study break that down?

GUPTA: Yes. They broke that down as well. And one of the most interesting disparities actually came in the form of video games. 30 percent of kids 6 and under playing video games, 24 percent of the boys versus 8 percent of the girls playing video games. So a little difference there as well.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that bears out at my household for sure. For some reason, those boys love that Gamecube, I don't know why. Let's talk about, the bottom line here, is what does this mean in the way of negative habits? Is there a study out there that proves that all this is bad?

GUPTA: Yes, and that's the quantum leap. That's the difficult leap that people are having a hard time making, actually saying watching television equals bad somehow. There is several different schools of thought on it. But the biggest one that sort of came out of this Kaiser one, they're saying obviously limit the amount of television. Less than two hours a day is desirable.

But also use the time wisely. If your kid is not going to watch television as much, use that time to be doing something else. All these displaced activities really important, especially at this particular age time, because lots of brain development going on, both social as well as intellectual development going on. If they're parked in front of a television for hours and hours on time. That's obviously not a good thing -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Sanjay, I am interested in a new me. What can I do about that? Can you help me? Please, Dr. Gupta, a new.

GUPTA: Miles, I'm not sure that we can help you. Take that at the best possible way. But the people at home, if you're interested in making some lifestyle changes that could lead to a longer and healthier life, and there's a lot of us out there that want to do that, obviously, CNN is looking to help you. We have four regular folks we're looking for, 21 years or older, to participate in an eight-week program that can make you healthier. If you'd like to be a part of CNN's New You Resolution, sign up on our Web site. There's a lot of interesting letters already coming in. That's at CNN.com/am.

O'BRIEN: I'm beyond hope. The brain surgeon says I cannot be cured in any way, shape or form.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All the rest of America, we can help you. But, Miles, no, sorry.

O'BRIEN: All right, Sanjay Gupta, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 28, 2003 - 09:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us from CNN center to talk about the new Kaiser Family Foundation study and what it says about the media's influence on infants, toddlers and preschoolers -- Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

It's really amazing looking at kids so young. Certainly has been a lot of studies come out about television. But this is 0 to 6 years old, preschoolers and toddlers, to be sure.

What they found, just really quickly, some of the stats, two hours on average a day for all 6 and under children and two-thirds of those 2 years old and under also watching two hours or more of television, videos, something like that.

Here is the way it sort of breaks down in terms of televisions in the household. This has been something that's been the subject of a study now. 99 percent of children live in a home with a television. 50 percent or more have homes with three or more televisions. And 33 percent or so have a television in their own room. And again, we're talking about 6 and under in terms of age.

Many parents see the television not merely as a babysitter, but also potentially as an educational tool, talking about computers, things like that as well. There are some stats on that as well. 48 percent of children under the age of 6 use a computer as well. 70 percent if you get to the 4 to 6 year-old crowd specifically are using computers as well.

The big issue here, Miles, sort of break it down. No one specifically saying in this entire very long study -- which I have here -- no one specifically saying that television is necessarily bad for you. But what they are saying for the most part is that it displaces other potentially more -- activities with more benefits, such as reading in particular. Kids who are watching a lot of television, reading less, and that's a problem -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: It just staggers my mind that one in three under six have a TV in their own room.

GUPTA: I know. You and I didn't have that.

O'BRIEN: No. No.

What are they watching, though? Is it TV, or is it videos? I think a lot of parents think a video isn't quite the same.

GUPTA: Right, it's sort of interesting actually. They broke this down very specifically as well, in terms of the types of media that children are looking at here. You can see the number, 79 percent actually listen to music daily. That's actually the most common. 65 percent reading books. So there is still reading going on, just less of it. 63 percent watching television. So large numbers there -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: What about boys and girls? did the study break that down?

GUPTA: Yes. They broke that down as well. And one of the most interesting disparities actually came in the form of video games. 30 percent of kids 6 and under playing video games, 24 percent of the boys versus 8 percent of the girls playing video games. So a little difference there as well.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that bears out at my household for sure. For some reason, those boys love that Gamecube, I don't know why. Let's talk about, the bottom line here, is what does this mean in the way of negative habits? Is there a study out there that proves that all this is bad?

GUPTA: Yes, and that's the quantum leap. That's the difficult leap that people are having a hard time making, actually saying watching television equals bad somehow. There is several different schools of thought on it. But the biggest one that sort of came out of this Kaiser one, they're saying obviously limit the amount of television. Less than two hours a day is desirable.

But also use the time wisely. If your kid is not going to watch television as much, use that time to be doing something else. All these displaced activities really important, especially at this particular age time, because lots of brain development going on, both social as well as intellectual development going on. If they're parked in front of a television for hours and hours on time. That's obviously not a good thing -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Sanjay, I am interested in a new me. What can I do about that? Can you help me? Please, Dr. Gupta, a new.

GUPTA: Miles, I'm not sure that we can help you. Take that at the best possible way. But the people at home, if you're interested in making some lifestyle changes that could lead to a longer and healthier life, and there's a lot of us out there that want to do that, obviously, CNN is looking to help you. We have four regular folks we're looking for, 21 years or older, to participate in an eight-week program that can make you healthier. If you'd like to be a part of CNN's New You Resolution, sign up on our Web site. There's a lot of interesting letters already coming in. That's at CNN.com/am.

O'BRIEN: I'm beyond hope. The brain surgeon says I cannot be cured in any way, shape or form.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All the rest of America, we can help you. But, Miles, no, sorry.

O'BRIEN: All right, Sanjay Gupta, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com