More reason for limiting your child’s TV time

A new study conducted in Washington state has discovered a link between TV exposure and decreased language development in babies and young children. It is believed that when a TV is on, adults speak fewer words to their children, limiting their interaction—an essential part of a child’s language development. Many parents currently are a bit relaxed on the “no screen time before two” rule because shows like Sesame Street and Baby Einstein appear to have educational benefit for kids, but the results of this study have found that children vocalize up to 50 percent less when a TV is on.

So what do you think? Are you less likely to put your child in front of Sesame Street or Blue’s Clues now that you’re armed with this new information?

Comments

[Dan]

No...
Our daughter is 2 and a half, watches a fair amount of TV and out speaks most of her friends.

I don't believe it is the TV we should be blaming for decreased language development but rather the parents who don't talk to their children...

Our daughter can watch TV and interact with us at the same time. We always speak to her and actually utilize the TV as a means of engaging her. We ask her about what she is watching and she loves to tell us.

Our biggest concern about the TV is more the fact that she would sit and watch it for long periods of time rather than go outside or into her room to play. That is the reason we do in fact sometimes try to limit her TV time.

She is also bilingual and without TV we would find it hard for her to learn Japanese as her mother is the only one who speaks it fluently.

[Jessica]

I agree. TV time is a waste. My kids don't watch TV. If any of you are interested in getting ecofriendly tip visit www.eco-friendlyliving.com. It's a cool website.

[Renee]

Hmmm....I feel that it is the parents responsibility to monitor what a child is watching and how much. We do not have a traditional t.v. We do download a few seasons of Muppet shows and my son loves to dance and clap with the musical numbers. Moderation is the key, but children model what they see; therefore it's a parent's duty to model desirable behaviors, and if they put a child in front of a t.v. or even another individual than the same responsibility should be applied.

[ashley]

My child is almost one and she watches tv. i dont think tv has anything to do with her speaking less, she actually says words now. and she look at tv, she watches the children tv showes that gives a child a chance to respond back. they ask questions ans thing of that nature, and then they will pause for sometime to give them a chance to answer the question. its funny how she tries to answer. i watch it with her and talk to her about whats going on in the show. so basically it just boils down to how the parent is. if they just plop the child in front of the tv and have no interaction with the child, then of course they will speak less.

[xxxxx]

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