Children in poorer areas are twice as likely to have televisions in their rooms as those in affluent areas, a National Consumer Council survey found.
Some 550 children aged nine to 13 filled in researchers’ questionnaires. Nearly half the affluent children had TVs in their bedrooms – and almost all (97%) of those in deprived areas.
Poorer children were six times more likely to watch TV during their evening meals, more likely to watch commercial TV and to believe claims in adverts.
Chief executive Ed Mayo said: “This research is the first in the UK to explore in depth the connections between the wellbeing of our children and the commercial world that surrounds them.
“The report warns against simplistic claims, whether by commercial advocates of more marketing to children or by critics who argue that there is a ‘loss of childhood’ underway in Britain.”
The researchers obtained the views of children in six schools: two primary schools and one secondary in areas ranked in the top and bottom 15% for affluence.
You can read the rest of the report on the BBC website.
We were having a conversation about the lure of the TV the other day in school and we got to chatting about what we did to while away the time when we were youngsters. Any one else remember taking some bread and a bottle of water out for the whole day on a bike ride?!
