In many homes, the television is on for a large portion of the day. Parents fall asleep with a television on, televisions are in every room, and there are dozens of shows, even on educational channels, that are marketed as being appropriate and educational for young babies.

The amount of television watching you and your child do is directly related to weight problems, mood disorders such as depression, and to feelings of anxiety. A recent study concluded that early television viewing is associated with attention difficulties during school years. It is important for all parents to monitor the presence of television in their lives and in the lives of their one-year-olds, because it doesn't only affect their lives now, but their health and wellness later on.

Keep in mind that television recommendations include computer, video, and DVD time, not just time spent watching television shows. The information is intended to cover all passive screen time, as there is no developmental reason for a child to sit in front of any type of machine.

Docs Say No

Officially, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television for children aged two or younger. Your one-year-old will not want the television on for any reason of her own, although that will change if you make it appealing to her. If you can, keep it off while she's in the room. You may think that she's oblivious to its sights and sounds, but the truth is, she is aware of what's going on even though she can't process the adult information in any kind of meaningful way.

According to Nielsen Reports, children in the United States watch about four hours of television every day. They also see many commercials during children's programs for unhealthy foods, such as candy, snacks, sugary cereals, and drinks that can lead them to desire these products as they get older.

While it may seem like the television is on for just a few minutes, in reality, the effect is cumulative. The average child sees more than 20,000 commercials each year. If your child watches three to four hours of noneducational television per day, he will have seen about 8,000 TV murders by the time he finishes grade school.

Real Life Says Maybe

Of course, the reality is that you're going to turn the TV on sometimes, and you may even turn on a movie or television show designed specifically for a young child. Real life happens. If you need to take an important phone call or do something, chances are you will look for something that captures your child's attention for a few minutes. Studies have shown that high-quality, nonviolent children's shows can have a positive effect on learning.

If you're going to turn the television on, make sure it's tuned to public television or playing a DVD designed for a young baby. These often feature classical music with pictures of animals, which aren't aggressive in any way.