How to set limits when it comes to TV
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no television at all for children aged under two years, and advises parents to limit older children to no more than two hours a day of educational, non-violent TV programs. It also advises against allowing young children to have a TV in their bedroom.
However, census reports show that over half of American homes have three or more TV sets and research suggests that around 40 percent of babies are regularly ‘watching’ TV by the time they reach three months of age. Around 90 percent of two year olds watch TV every day. Another recent study suggested that watching a lot of TV at a young age resulted in a 40 percent increase in attention problems among both boys and girls. Getting into the TV habit too soon has also been linked to the rise in obesity among young children who prefer it to exercise.
Despite this, the reality for most moms is that turning on the television can be a great way to keep toddlers and preschoolers entertained while you do chores (or snatch that extra half-hour in bed at the weekend). There’s also no doubt that it can also be educational if you ensure they watch the right programs and use them as teachable moments. Here are gurgle’s tips for making sure the TV remains a learning tool, not a parent substitute…
1. Keep the TV a treat
One of the best ways to ensure your child doesn’t head for the remote control if she’s bored is to make it clear that TV is a treat and not a right. Make her favorite TV show a reward for good behavior that she only gets to enjoy after family time and other kinds of activities and play.
2. Make it brief
Switch off the TV once your child’s program has finished instead of leaving it on as constant background noise while your child engages in other activities. Having the TV on all the time is a distraction, even if your child doesn’t appear to be watching it. There’s some evidence that extraneous background noise from TV may limit a young child’s vocabulary – one study suggested that 8-16 month old babies who watched videos knew six to eight
fewer words than those who didn’t watch them. Research also indicates that if the TV is constantly on, children engage less in other creative activities such as playing with toys and
imaginative play, and in less
interactive play.
3. Check programs are age-appropriate
TV programs a baby or toddler watches need to have simple concepts presented in a simple way your child will understand without being overwhelmed by too much dialogue or flashy visuals. If TV programs reflect your baby or toddler’s everyday life and the situations she encounters in it, then she can learn from them.
4. Give your child alternatives to TV
There’s no point in just switching off the TV and telling your child to ‘go play’. Give her something to do, arrange playdates, go out. If you’ve become accustomed to switching the TV on at the fist sign of whining, draw up an activity schedule for your child: 15 minutes spent playing with her Lego, another 15 spent playing with toys, another 15 molding with playdough, another 15 spent coloring, and so on. Get an hour and a half’s worth of activities planned in and then just repeat them through the day.
5. Watch TV together
Don’t just plant your child in front of the TV by herself, no matter how much you need to get the dinner made. Watching it with her is vital when it comes to her learning from what she is seeing. In order to help your child learn from TV, you need to be there to laugh, explain, verbalize the action and ask your older child what she thinks about what she is watching. Your presence is also crucial to ensure an inquisitive toddler or preschooler doesn’t channel surf to something that is unsuitable viewing for her age group.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 04/01/2009
Related Chat 1
In point 4 the 15 minute schedule is completely unrealistic - I could not possible do this and have a clean home or in fact do anything else. Mattie has to play on his own with me beginning the play with him, so I give input for say 5 mins and he plays for 10-15 mins.
Once or twice a week I will sit down and watch with the kids (my eldest of 5 will watch movies like Mama Mia with me now) otherwise it cannot be done, as I cannot be everywhere and do everything.
I am not sure what planet this author is on, but it is certainly unlike any I know!
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