Why should I turn off the TV when my child is around?

Having your favorite TV show host on in the background might be nice ("Say hi to Dr. Oz, bubby!"). But this kind of white noise makes it difficult for kids to distinguish between the sounds they need to know and the sounds they don't. So keep the TV off and make sure that the responsibility of filling the silence is fulfilled by the three-dimensional people in the room, not the two-dimensional ones. Even better, don't turn on the TV at all when your child is around, and don't even think about putting one in his room. Studies show that kids with TVs in their bedrooms tend to be more overweight and don't perform as well in school. Bottom line: TV can decrease brainpower.