It’s hard to find an infant or toddler who hasn’t watched at least some TV, but is it good for them? Here’s how to decide when it’s okay to let your baby first watch TV and how to get the most from children’s television programming.
At what age should children start to watch television?
Hold off introducing television and videos to your baby for as long as possible. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under two years of age avoid watching TV entirely. Experts say that babies and young toddlers see television as a confusing array of colors, images and noises. Children under age two won’t understand much of the content they see on TV and it takes time away from more productive exploring, such as interacting with others.
Also, young children have a very literal view of the world. Babies and toddlers can’t tell the difference between real and pretend. Many young children interpret what they see on TV as true life. Research has found that many young children believe that TV characters actually live inside their TV sets. This can confuse your child’s understanding of the world.
What amount of television should your child watch?
Children who watch a lot of television during their early years are at an increased risk of childhood obesity, poor social development and aggressive behavior. They also become passive and lose their natural creativity. Eventually, they will have a hard time keeping themselves busy and will lose valuable time that should be dedicated to play–the foundation of a healthy childhood and the primary way that young children learn .
Avid TV watchers often have trouble adjusting to preschool or kindergarten. According to a study by Yale Family Television Research, teachers characterized children who watched excessive television as less cooperative, less imaginative, less enthusiastic about learning, and less happy than those who watched little or no TV.
When it comes to TV, less is better.
Watching television can be addictive and the more a child watches, the more he’ll want to watch. Set a goal, such as no more than 30 to 60 minutes a day, and stick to it.
(According to a recent Nielsen Company study, the average two- to five-year-old spends 4.5 hours a day watching TV or DVDs.)
Be choosey about your child’s TV viewing
As TV and DVD watching is on the rise, the viewing of quality children’s programming, such as Sesame Street, is actually declining.
Be careful in selecting programs for your child to watch. View TV shows with your child first to ensure they include quality programming that can teach him basic academic skills, such as the ABCs, counting, addition, science fundamentals, basic language skills, manners, and even early reading skills.
Alternatively, TV can be a good way for your child to view things he might not otherwise see in daily life such as exotic animals, distant lands, musical instruments, historical places, and diverse lifestyles.
Avoid using TV as a babysitter or a default activity and turn the television off when no one is actively watching it. If your child is spending time in front of the TV, it’s your job to make sure they’re watching something appropriate and educational.