TV-watching linked to bullying

Watching a lot of television makes four-year-olds more likely to
become bullies later on in their childhood, according to new
research from the United States.

The report, carried out by the University of Washington, also
states that children whose parents spent quality time with them and
gave them attention generally were less likely to become
bullies.

Frederick Zimmerman, who led the research, said that bullying
could now be put alongside other potential problems associated with
watching too much television such as obesity.

The research, which was published in the April issue of the
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, is based on
information from a study of 1, 266 four-year-olds whose bullying
activities were monitored from age 6-11. Around 13 per cent of the
children were found to be bullies.