Studies have shown that television viewing is adversely affecting children's health, and now there is evidence that sticking to TV for long hours may also shatter mother-child relationship. Kids, who are exposed to television and videos tend to have limited verbal interactions with their mothers, according to a new study published in the Archieves of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The study is the first to assess parent-infant interactions as they relate to specific media content.

"Our conclusions are especially significant because parent-infant interactions have huge ramifications for early child development, as well as school advancement and success during adolescence," says author Dr Mendelsohn from New York University School of Medicine.

In the study, it was found that overall parent-infant verbal interactions across broad media content were limited. However, when the programming was educational and co-viewed by both mother and infant in each other's presence, interactions increased. The study also showed that educational programming did not promote co-viewing, which is a factor that contributes to verbal interactions.

Earlier data on this topic include a study, which is citied that 61 percent of children younger than two years of age are exposed to television on a daily basis. In the new study, 97 percent of mother with 6-month olds reported their infants were exposed to television or radio at the median rate of two hours a day. The study advises that parents expose their infants only to educational programming that is co-viewed by the mother.

Dr Mendelsohn notes the study also suggests that paediatricians increase efforts to promote verbal interactions with respect to media exposure and other daily activities, such as eating, playing and reading aloud.