Northwest Iowa (Radio Iowa) — An Iowa State University study shows the negative consequences of children having a TV or video game console in their bedrooms.
Lead author and I-S-U psychology professor Doug Gentile says having a TV in a child’s bedroom leads to more screen time.
Gentile says this can increase a child’s risk for exposure to violent media, obesity, video game addiction and physical aggression. That’s often because it’s harder for parents to monitor a child’s digital activities if they’re taking place behind closed doors. He says allowing children to have digital devices in their rooms doesn’t change the effects of spending more time with screens.
These findings likely also apply to kids who bring handheld devices, like iPads, into their room. Keeping screens out of a child’s bedroom will benefit them in the long term, according to Genitle.
