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Television for Tots
Parents generally have strong opinions about the effects of television on young children, particularly their own. Experts offer suggestions and studies seem to find varying results, however. How much is too much? Is there some programming that is better for baby’s development? Is it really so horrible to let your infant watch a short movie set to soothing music? Unfortunately, there is not a definitive answer, and like most parental decisions, you simply have to look at the facts and hope for the best.
The Studies
There have been many studies conducted on the effects of television on young children. All have come to the same conclusion that prolonged exposure to television is bad developmentally and potentially socially. Long hours in front of the television can impact weight and activity level as well as motor skills. The hard part seems to be finding the happy medium. How long should we let our children watch?
Various experts in the industry offer guidelines for television consumption. Some feel that there should be no television at all, and others are more inclined to allow an hour or two a day. With the lack of consensus among experts, parents should make decisions that are best suited for their own families.
If a child is not inclined to watch television, by all means encourage that behavior. On the other hand, if your child loves the television set, parents must be cautious. Small children are often awake only twelve hours a day, thus parents should use prudence when deciding how much of the child’s day should be spent in front of the television set.
The Programs
There are a variety of programs available for children starting as early as birth. The earliest shows involve simple scenes of toys, animals and puppets set to classical music. These are immensely popular with the parents of babies as often these videos buy the only thirty minute break that parent gets during the day. Infants and young toddlers enjoy these programs as well. Although they are touted as educational in nature, these programs do not actually make children smarter. They might help a child learn a few new vocabulary words, but no more than a parent would have taught the baby otherwise.
Toddler favorites are more varied. Many classical programs parents watched as children are still on the air. Big birds and monsters in love with cookies resonate with toddlers of every generation, it seems. Newer programming with large purple dinosaurs or tubby imaginary creatures competes with animated programs about construction workers and explorers.
What Helps
As much as your child might enjoy these shows, remember they are only educational if you, the parent, watch with the child and point out vocabulary or learning opportunities. Programs with repetition of basic vocabulary or numerical concepts can offer a starting place for older toddlers, but it is important to remember that television doesn’t teach; parents do.
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