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Home › Articles › Nutrition and Health › Little Consumers

Little Consumers

The Effects of Commercials on Toddlers and Preschoolers

By Teri Brown

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Television viewing contributes to the increased consumption of energy-dense food and the increase of sedentary behavior. In turn, this creates an energy imbalance that leads to overweight children.

What Can New Parents Do?

Start limiting your child's exposure to television early. Get into the habit of turning the TV off while they are still babies so it isn't a normal thing to have the TV on.

Julianna Hale from Cleveland, Tenn., hasn't banished the television from their home, but she is careful of what her children watch. "We stick to PBS for most shows," Hale says. They are, for the most part, commercial free but McDonald's does manage to get some promos in occasionally. I also record the shows before watching them and this allows me to fast forward through most of the commercials."

Hale says her son is a marketer's dream. They occasionally watch Jeopardy as a family and the results are noticeable. "He has, on more than one occasion, touted the merits of Orange Clean to me in the household cleaner aisle at the grocery store," Hale says. "I laugh uncomfortably and try to ignore the impact that marketing has on my son. It is clear and loud and undeniable."

Parents need to be aware of the impact television can have on even the smallest child. New parents, especially, are in the unique position to stop the problem before it starts. By careful monitoring of the television, new parents may be able to make a dent in childhood obesity.

Alternative Activities

Dr. Mary Ellen Renna, a physician nutrition specialist and author of Growing up Healthy the Next Generation Way: How to Add Years to Your Child's Life and Life to Your Child's Years (Select Books, 2007), gives the following activities that can be done instead of television:

  • Arts and crafts such as coloring books, glue stick projects, sticker books, etc. can all be done, even by small children with supervision.
  • Picture books are also great for a little distraction. Children love to look at pictures in books whether they are store bought or even home family picture albums!
  • Dolls and trucks for imaginary play or any toy, for that matter.
  • Engage them in whatever it is that you are doing. If you need to work on the computer you could buy a play computer or ask them to help you cook or set the table. Give them busy work to do and they will love it.


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