The American Academy of Pediatrics did a study that showed that watching TV at such a young age "rewires" their brains. The effects don't usually show up until the child is school aged (around 7) and shows up as ADD or ADHD.
As reported in the journal Pediatrics in April 2004, researchers at Children's Hospital in Seattle found that the more television a child watches between the ages of 1 and 3, the greater his or her likelihood of developing attention problems by age 7. More specifically, for each extra hour per day of TV time, the risk of concentration difficulties increases by 10 percent, compared with that of a child who views no TV at all. Excessive viewing was associated with a 28 percent increase in attention problems. (http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/826.html)
Some people don't really believe that watching TV at a young age effects attention span the way the studies claim. I don't know, I just don't see it as worth the risk for 30 minutes of "free time" away from the baby while he/she sits memorized by the screen. After working in day care and after-school programs, I don't want my kids to be "one of those kids". We'll see how it works out in the long run, but at the moment, I'm sure I can come up with plenty of other activities that don't include the TV for my baby.
3 comments:
That's so awesome!! SO TRUE! I think that is a very wise choice for little Isava... can't wait 'till January!
~Aunt Rebekah
I concur with you and Aunt Rebekah. :o) (and the study)
I'm so happy you and Luke are weighing out important things like this for your baby before he/she is even here. There will always be plenty of time to watch television (if you think it's important), but you can never get back those formative years with your child.
Love,
Mom
Well, once they're old enough, I don't see anything wrong with a little TV in moderation, but it should in no way become a babysitter. That's for sure.
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