ABSTRACT
Television viewing has evolved into the most time-consuming leisure activity of American youth. In fact, by the age of 18 most children will have spent more time watching television than doing anything else except sleeping. As with most other social phenomena, television viewing has been the topic of much scientific inquiry. Literally thousands of studies have examined the content of television programs and the effect that different types of content have on child viewers. Until quite recently, however, virtually all of the research on television and child behavior has focused on average or "normal" children and ignored youngsters with learning or behavioral disabilities or with advanced intellectual capabilities. This book attempts to fill this void by reporting what is known about the programs exceptional children watch on television, how they process the content and how it affects them, and what environmental factors can influence children's reactions to the medium.
