Step1
Lose the television.
I realize you'd probably prefer to off me instead of your television -- especially after you hear this (because it's always more satisfying when the messenger bites it), but it's been empirically proven that TV weakens children's attention.
Big deal ... I know, but I promise it’s much worse.
Researchers discovered that with each additional hour that a child under age four watches TV, his or her chances of developing attention problems at age seven increase by 9 percent.
NINE PERCENT!
Nine percent? Big deal, you're thinking... Not so fast, tweedle dee. That nine percent may not seem like a lot right now, but mark my tweedle dumb, twenty years from now, when your neighbors have chased you out of your neighborhood because your son *still* can't drive the garbage truck in a straight line, and sadly, he's crashed it into many -- if not all -- of your neighbors' cars, you're going to remember that nine percent and you're going to wish you had taken me more seriously.
Go ahead and snicker. There’s nothing funny about what happens when a girl tries to dance to her favorite Teletubbies soundtrack, the one her mum gave her when she was seven, but because her brain is so fried from all the TV, she can’t quite keep time with the music, or make her hands meet when she tries to clap them. How do I know? I *am* that girl. Only now I'm 30, and I still love Teletubies.
Take it from me – your TV belongs in the trash can that someone else’s junior will be emptying in the morning. Don't blame me when he totals your car ...
Enthusiast 
Comments
CadiesMama06 said
on 10/25/2007 I beg to differ, my one year old loves blues clues and baby einstein, she sings and dances along with them,and mocks what they do. its adorable.
dineshmurani said
on 4/30/2007 It is definately affect the Children's attention problem if they watch TV for longer hours in early age. But after ages 3-5 years, it is recommended to watch atleast educational programme as suggessted by comment 1.
RoseyP said
on 4/27/2007 I took the complete opposite approach with my two eldest children (now teenagers). I left the TV on most of the day and after a short while it was of no interest to them. They do watch TV now, but only certain programmes. It hasn't done them any harm. In fact the eldest is a straight-A student. If the 1 hour = 9% thing is true, then my 1-year old is already doomed! Whilst I agree that TV can be very harmful, if parents carefully monitor what their children see on it, it can be beneficial. There are some very good, fun, educational programmes that parents can utilise when teaching their young children about shapes, sizes, colours, counting, etc. It's when kids are plonked down in front of the box with no other stimuli while the parents do something else, somewhere else that problems arise. Just my opinion :)