A new study proves what we may have suspected all along; just having the TV on distracts kids. You knew that already just as you noticed your own level of concentration increases when the TV is off.
A recent study reported in the journal Child Development suggested that parents who leave the television on all day are stunting the development of their infants. It goes on to say that even when babies appeared to pay no attention to adult programs, they spent less time focused on toys compared with when the program was turned off.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two should watch no television and older children should be limited to no more than two hours a day.
”Parents should limit their young children’s exposure to background television,” said Marie Evans Schmidt, who carried out the research at the University of Massachusetts. She said TV was a potentially ”chronic environmental risk factor” affecting most children.
Many studies have indicated that excessive TV in the early years of life can stunt language skills and contribute to behavioral problems.
The message is loud and clear. Expand the same limits to all forms of media and you will have a child with time to think, dream and play.
