Television time in day care

Working parents relying on home-based day care programs should take note of a recent study on the television viewing habits in some programs.

A survey by researchers for the Center on Media and Child Health found that preschoolers in home-based programs watched TV for 2.4 hours a day, compared to 24 minutes in day care centers. Even infants were put in front of TV in home-based care, although the study did not track what programs were being watched.

"Hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call," said Dr. Dimitri Christakis, one of the researchers for the study.