Local doctor says no controversy when it comes to link between virtual violence, aggression in kids

SEATTLE -- Doctors say children will see 100,000 acts of violence before they are even in middle school.

And that alarming number is from a 1998 report, which is the latest data we have on TV images.

With the rise of technology, children are able to immerse themselves in the virtual world in so many different ways so it is safe to assume children are taking in more than 100,000 acts of violence. Doctor say that relationship can lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety and aggression.

That’s why parent Robb Doody keeps his 8- and 5-year-old kids active.

At home there is zero tolerance for TV and video games.

“Visually watching images on a screen that's flat doesn’t develop your brain the same as looking at things in real life,” Doody said.

Doctors at Seattle Children's Research Institute are linking virtual violence with real life aggression in kids.

“It’s not they are just seeing more violence, but they are experiencing much more realistic ways,” Dr. Dimitri Christakis said.

Christakis is the lead author of a new report in the American Academy of Pediatrics. He says many parents may think their kids are immune believing there is only a casual relationship between screen violence and real world aggression. But Christakis says science proves otherwise.

“Children under the age of 6 and 7 really don’t distinguish between fantasy and reality very well, it does cause anxiety in children it’s been shown to cause sleep disturbances,” Christakis said.

And when the average preschooler in America is spending 4 ½ hours in front of a screen everyday and teenagers up to 9 hours, doctors say it is crucial for parents to put kids on a media diet.

“We found that children whose parents changed what they watched had better behavior less aggression more pro social behavior,” Christakis said.

Christakis says it's hard to expect kids, especially older ones to stay away from the virtual world all together but he says parents need to know what their children are experiencing. So far Doody is setting a great example for his kids.

“They read books, they draw pictures they go outside and play,” Doody said.

He knows healthy habits at a young age will have lifelong effects.

Christakis recommends only about an hour of screen time for kids 2 and older. For older kids it’s more screen quality than screen time with many kids using technology to do their homework and watch educational videos.