Are DVDs and TV shows for children as beneficial as they claim to be?
Discovery Kids, Sesame Street, Cartoon Netowrk, Disney Channel,…
The choices are almost endless. They are supposed to enhance a little child’s language and cognitive skills. But are they really beneficial as they claim to be?
Dimitri Christakis, a researcher at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington says such claims are not supported by scientific evidence. Dr. Christakis reviewed 78 research studies published during the last 25 years on the effects of TV on children and the conclusions he got from the reviews were concerning.
Here are some of his findings:
- 9 out of 10 toddlers (under two!) sit in front of the TV regularly, many as much 40% of their waking hours.
- Many parents are not aware of the potential hazards of TV. In a survey, 29% of parents interviewed believe that watching TV is “good for the brains.” Only about 6% are aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not encourage TV viewing in the first two years of a child’s life.
- In another study, 1 out of 5 parents interviewed admit they allow kids to watch TV to have a little bit of time for themselves.
- A number of studies indicate that watching TV programs and DVDs during the first 2 years of life can actually delay language development, regardless of the language.
- Another study reported that schoolchildren exposed to TV in their early years performed poorly in reading and memory tests.
- The claims being made by DVD manufacturers and TV producers are not supported by research data from peer-reviewed journals or even by studies supported by the entertainment industry itself.
Some of the reasons of the adverse effects of TV cited by Dr. Christakis are as follows:
- While watching TV, children are exposed to “flashing lights, scene changes, quick edits and auditory cuts which may be over stimulating to developing brains.”
- TV also tends to take the time normally spent on age-appropriate and more beneficial activities like free play, role playing, and interaction with parents and other children.
As a mother of twins, I must admit I was tempted on several occasions to use TV just to get a couple of hours’ of peace. But I am glad to say, I never gave in to the temptation and managed to keep my children “TV-free” during their first 3 years of life. After that, we slowly eased them to TV viewing, with selected shows and films, starting with 10 minutes a day. Now at 5 and a half, they are up to 20 minutes of short cartoons or educational TV shows, whereas some of their classmates have already viewed full-length films like the Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter. I know the time will come when my kids will demand for more TV time. In the meantime, we try to engage their interest in other, more useful activities like sports, art and crafts, reading, and music. Hopefully, their varied interests will help limit their need for TV viewing as they grow older.
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