A new study shows 83 percent of U.S. children watch TV or movies because parents need time to do other things.
The Kaiser Family Foundation study found 61 percent of kids under 1-year-old watch TV or videos an average of an hour or more a day.
But the study, a telephone survey of parents with kids between 6-months and 6-years old, showed parents turned to the TV babysitter when they needed time alone or to cook.
The study also included eight focus groups in three cities and Washington.
The New York Times reports many monitored or restricted the content to make sure it was appropriate.
The study indicated 83 percent of children also are given a steady diet of reading too.
While many TV shows or DVDs offer age-appropriate content -- and even educational content -- University of Massachusetts at Amherst professor Daniel Anderson said there isn't enough research to weigh the benefits.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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