The media, including the internet, can exert a powerful influence on your child’s health and development. This influence can be both beneficial and harmful. It's important that children do not use computers, computer games and the internet to the exclusion of other developmentally appropriate tasks, including the need to be physically active. As with other areas of children’s lives, parents have a responsibility to provide guidance and to set clear limits.

By the age of 18 years, the average child has spent more time watching television than attending school. Television has a major influence upon the health and development of children in Australia and New Zealand. Different children are affected by television in different ways.