National TV Turnoff Week is April 19-25 and is an ideal time to turn off the TV, video games, and computer games and take advantage of some of the great opportunities for physical activity and family time that are available in your community. Experts believe that excessive screen time can have negative effects on children and teens, including an increase in obesity. That is why the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages television viewing for children ages two years old or younger. For older children, the Academy advises no more than one to two hours per day of supervised screen time. So turn off all the screens and enjoy time together! ~Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP |