IS THIS the ultimate in bureaucratic paper shuffling or is it for real? The Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital has just released recommendations stating children under two shouldn’t be allowed to watch television – and that children aged between two and five should only be allowed to watch up to an hour a day.

Our first thought was that this was taking stating the bleeding obvious to remarkable new highs.

The “experts” have apparently realised what most people know goes without saying – that exposure to the babble box – at any age – can have an adverse impact on language development, mental skills and attention span.

If readers have any doubt just watch any male aged from two to 200 who is given unfettered control of the remote – except, of course, during the sport

season.

Seriously though, the most alarming thing about the recommendations contained in the soon-to-be-released Get Up and Grow guidelines is that they are aimed at childcare centres.

One would like to think that professionals employed in this working environment would already be very aware that the television is not an appropriate babysitter – especially for toddlers and infants.

“Screen time”, the guidelines state, “may reduce the amount of time they (the kids) have for active play, social contact with others and chances for language development”.

“(Screen time) may affect the development of a full range of eye movement (and) reduce the time they can stay focused.”

In other words, nobody ever got smart watching Kimba and, as your mother told you, too much television will send you square-eyed.

THE level of violence at licensed venues in Tamworth has long been a serious cause for concern.

While we appreciate efforts are being made by the police, the council and the industry to address the issue, progress does not appear to be as rapid as members of the community would like.

Saturday night’s incident at the Longyard Hotel – which involved more than 30 people and saw the deck bombarded with liquor bottles and the like – is a case in point.