We Can!® Audio News Release

Reducing Screen Time for Kids Transcript

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"Stations, the following is a news announcement. Suggested lead in 3, 2, 1…"

(INTRO): "Did you know that children ages 8 to 13 spend nearly six hours a day watching TV, playing video games or being on the computer?

Research has shown that the increasing hours of screen time has added to the growing numbers of overweight children.

Here are some tips to reduce screen time from We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activities and Nutrition), a public education program from the National Institutes of Health for parents of children ages 8 to 13.

Karen Donato of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, explains."

(DONATO): "Children just aren't getting the recommended sixty minutes of daily physical activity. Cutting back on screen time can help. Parents, limit screen time to no more than two hours a day. Also, keep the TV out of your child's bedroom. Children who have TVs in their room watch almost one and a half hours more each day. Finally, make TV time active time by doing some simple exercises."

(CLOSE): "For helpful tools, visit wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov or call 1-866-35-WECAN."