Screen Time

Twenty years ago research showed that reading scores declined as children’s television viewing increased beyond an hour and a half a day (Jim Trelease, The Read Aloud Handbook). Jane Healy , PhD, wrote Failure to Connect, a book about how computers affect our children’s minds, and Endangered Minds, a book that conveys the relationship between language, learning, and brain development, then explains why television viewing and lifestyles sabotage language acquisition, thinking, and personal success.

Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics states “no screen time before the age of two.” It may be tempting to put your infant or toddler in front of the television, especially to watch shows created just for children under age two. But the American Academy of Pediatrics says: Don't do it! These early years are crucial in a child's development. The Academy is concerned about the impact of television programming intended for children younger than age two and how it could affect your child's development. The benefits of parent-child interactions are proven. Under age two, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child's development than any TV show or video.

Additionally, last year, lawyers threatened a class-action lawsuit for unfair and deceptive practices unless Disney agreed to refund the full purchase price to all who bought Baby Einstein videos since 2004. “The Walt Disney Company’s entire Baby Einstein marketing regime is based on express and implied claims that their videos are educational and beneficial for early childhood development,” a letter from the lawyers said, calling those claims “false because research shows that television viewing is potentially harmful for very young children.” The letter cited estimates from The Washington Post and Business Week that Baby Einstein controlled 90 percent of the baby media market, and sold $200 million worth of products annually.

The letter also described studies showing that television exposure at ages 1 through 3 is associated with attention problems at age 7. In response, the Baby Einstein Company will refund $15.99 for up to four “Baby Einstein” DVDs per household, bought between June 5, 2004, and Sept. 5, 2009, and returned to the company.

Now, there is the PEACH Project. Lead author Dr Angie Page from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences said: “Whilst low levels of screen viewing may not be problematic, we cannot rely on physical activity to 'compensate' for long hours of screen viewing.“Watching TV or playing computer games for more than two hours a day is related to greater psychological difficulties irrespective of how active children are.” The authors of the report, published in the November edition of the American journal Pediatrics, conclude that limiting children’s screen time may be important for ensuring children’s future health and well-being.

Turn off the television, videos, and computer and read or go out and play!!