Being Glued To The Tube Is Child’s Play.

Media-savvy children in the U.S. are tuning into television programs and using increasingly sophisticated media at a younger age, according the “The U.S. Kids Market, 6th Edition,” a new report focusing on trends in the 3- to 12-year-old population, by market research publisher Packaged Facts. The report reveals that watching television is a universal activity among 98% of 4- to-6-year-olds, and is slightly lower for 0- to-3-year-olds, at 87%. Further, two out of three kids in the 0- to-3-year-old age bracket have turned the TV on by themselves, while more than half can change channels with the remote.

It should be noted that these children spend as much time outside as they do using screen media, like TV, videos and DVDs, computers, and video games.

These statistics, combined with the fact that 70% of 4- to-6-year-olds and 31% of kids 3 and under have used a computer, help to explain why the influence of media on U.S. children, and children on parental buying decisions through “pester power,” is growing. The report shows that 41% of parents agree that kids significantly influence brand purchasing, while 69% agree that kids are over-exposed to materialism.

“Regardless of one’s opinion on the influence of media on children, it’s undeniable that television plays an enormous role in the life of America’s youngsters,” said Don Montuori, Acquisitions Editor for Packaged Facts. “But perhaps the most surprising finding is how adept they are at manipulating the technology – and their parents.”

For more information at http://www.PackagedFacts.com