The average Brit watched 22 hours and 36 minutes of TV in the second week of January 2020. That is 13 minutes longer than during 2019. One of the most popular weeks to spend time in front of the TV is during Christmas, when the average Brit spent a whopping 25 hours and 45 minutes in front of the TV.

An estimated 38 commercials air every minute across national TV, and the average viewer spends about 15 minutes out of every hour just watching ads. That adds up to more than an hour of total TV time each day.

4 hours

Changing viewing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, according to Ofcom’s latest annual study of the UK’s media habits, Media Nations 2020.

In 2019, TV consumption in the United States was highest among African Americans,who watched an average of 3.23 hours of TV each day. Meanwhile, Asian Americans spent around half that amount of time watching television each day.

But too much screen time can be a bad thing: Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight. Kids who view violent acts on TV are more likely to show aggressive behavior, and to fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.

So far, reading looks pretty good compared to television. Reading calms the nerves, increases language and reasoning, and can even keep you mentally alert as you age. TV, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. On the other hand, reading books together increased the amount and level of communication.

One of the biggest impacts is eye strain. You may hear someone saying they have “sore eyes” from watching too much TV. While your eyes won’t go square from watching too much telly, your vision can start to suffer: eye strain, dry eyes, headaches.

If you agree, here are some helpful tips to reduce your personal television watching habits.

1. Begin with the decision.
2. Less can be different than none.
3. Limit the number of televisions in your home.
4. Be intentional about planning something else.
5. Try to eliminate specific shows.
6. Know it gets even easier over time.

A new study finds that watching too much TV can increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, a condition characterized by potentially fatal blood clots. Share on Pinterest Watching too much TV could raise the risk of potentially fatal blood clots, say researchers.

30 Amazing Things to Do Instead of Watching TV

• Call your parents.
• Go for a walk, jog, hike, or bike ride in your neighborhood.
• Fix something in your home that has been bugging you for a long time.
• Host board game night with your family or friends.
• Volunteer for something.
• Have a romantic candle-lit dinner.
• Read a book, either at home, or at a local library or bookstore.

Here are 9 alternatives to watching TV:

• Listen. Pretend like you live in a pre-television decade and crowd around the wireless for some evening entertainment.
• Do something mildly artistic.
• Write a letter.
• Play a new game.
• Have friends over for dessert.
• Read poetry.
• Make headway in a novel.
• Look through your photos.

Here are some things that my husband and I try to do at the end of the day to stay connected:

1. Five good things.
2. Praying together.
3. Reading out loud.
4. Work out.
5. Play a board game.
6. Invite someone over.
7. Do service together.
8. Eat food.

To balance the time spent watching TV or even playing video games, try an alternative healthy activity that can enhance your child’s life and learning.

• Use sidewalk chalk.
• Help in the kitchen.
• Read.
• Get some fresh air and movement.
• Draw or paint.
• Listen to music.
• Build something.

Yes, watching TV is better than starving, but it’s worse than not watching TV. Good evidence suggests that screen viewing before age 18 months has lasting negative effects on children’s language development, reading skills, and short term memory. It also contributes to problems with sleep and attention.

Massive List of Things to Do While Watching TV

• Snuggle.
• Organize and log your tax-deductible receipts.
• Open your mail.
• Organize dresser and kitchen drawers — one at a time.
• Pay bills.
• Water the plants.
• Play with pets.
• Write a letter to somebody you haven’t been in touch with for way too long.

Viewing Habits

1. Keep a Diary. A recent study says adults watch more than four and a half hours of TV per day, so chances are your child isn’t the only one viewing.
2. Play “Hide and Don’t Seek”
3. Let Them “Buy” into Your System.
4. Reward Reading.
5. Find Something Better to Do.
6. Establish a TV-Free Family Night.

Toddlers 18 months to 24 months old can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent or caregiver. By ages 2 and 3, kids should watch no more than 1 hour a day. But not all screen time is created equal.