Television has been blamed for a lot of problems that children experience: bad communication and low levels of physical activity. Is too much TV a bad thing? And how much is too much?

It is always better to choose programmes that suit the age of your children. These usually have educational content developed specifically.

For instance, TV shows designed for under-twos generally have a single adult speaker. You will also find many programmes in that category with colourful puppets as main characters using small words and communicating happy emotions.

Three- to five-year-olds enjoy programmes that ask them to speak back, with a mix of familiar and new content. Today, cartoon series show a main character having to achieve a challenge with the help of the viewers – don’t be surprised if you hear your kids talking to the TV set. The children "live" the experience, guide the character and also discover new vocabulary or a new language through fun activities.

Finally, the main difficulty remains making sure that your child watches age-appropriate programmes. It is even harder if an older brother or sister dominates. As a solution, try to share TV time between siblings.

How much television should your child watch?

Children feel tired and stressed as well as we do, and simply want the chance to relax in front of the TV. But too much can affect your child’s talking, listening and concentration. Watching TV is passive. Proper communication, however, where children interact with others means that they have to listen and talk, and helps develop their social skills.

Here are some tips:

• Set basic rules. Agree together the type of programmes, the daily or weekly time and make sure there is no argument when the TV is turned off.
• Try to restrict daily TV time to half an hour for under-twos, and an hour for three to fives.
• Keep an eye on what programmes they are watching to make sure it is appropriate.
• Always turn the set off if no one is watching. Noises in the background can be a distraction.

The key to wellness is balance and moderation in all things. If you think your children are turning into TV addicts, try some alternatives.

Read our tips on turning off the TV tomorrow.