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In recent years there has been a worrying increase in violent and aggressive behaviour shown by some children. The murder of a 2-year-old toddler by 2 children in England and a number of classroom shootings in the USA are well-publicised examples.
It seems that excessive TV viewing may contribute to this increase in young people’s aggression. In California, 225 primary school children from 2 schools took part in a study. In one school the children had a series of lessons encouraging more sensible TV and video game choices and had their access to TV reduced. The children at the other school carried on in their usual way.
The time spent playing video games and watching TV reduced from an average of 23.5 hours a week to 14 hours a week in the first school. Children from that school showed a significant reduction in aggressive behaviour as judged by their fellow students and observed independently in the school playground.
