Media Project

The New York State Department of Health has identified a great need for parents and child care center personnel to understand the connection between young children watching a great deal of TV and other screen media and the potential for obesity and other problems. 

The overweight rates are increasing among all children including preschool children.  Several studies have linked excessive TV, video and other screen media watching and obesity.  Patterns for screen watching, as well as other contributing factors to obesity including physical activity, are set when children are young.  Therefore, the need exists to educate the adults who care for and educate young children about the connection between “screen” time and the potential for obesity.  With over 65% of mothers with children under five in the workforce the adults needing education are not only parents but those that provide child care as well.  Since child care programs serve so many children and the programs have access to the families, child care is an excellent place to reach many of the adults that impact children’s lives.

The Media Project addresses the need to educate the adults that care for young children and the gaps in providing information and education for them about limiting “screen” time for young children.  Since child care centers and families in this project are representative of the population of New York State, the evaluation will demonstrate the effects of information and more intensive intervention on child care center and family practices.