Study: TV affects toddlers

Researchers have found that every hour preschoolers watch television each day boosts their chances -- by about 10% -- of developing attention deficit problems later in life.

The findings back up previous research showing that television can shorten attention spans and support American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that youngsters under age 2 not watch television.

“The truth is there are lots of reasons for children not to watch television. Other studies have shown it to be associated with obesity and aggressiveness” too, said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a researcher at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

The study, appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, focused on two groups of children -- ages 1 and 3 -- and suggested that TV might overstimulate and permanently “rewire” the developing brain.