Studies show parents who use TV as a baby minder and tool to keep young children occupied could be endangering their future health. Too often parents are busy and so sit even really little children in front of the TV or to watch a DVD.
According to a recent study, doing this endangers their health not just as young children but sets up poor health habits and creates school adjustment problems. Children who are used to being in front of the TV have less capacity for classroom involvement, math and other subjects.
A young male teacher I know has found some children are less inclined to want to do creative work and work that requires them to think. They are used to having it all laid out in front of them. It could be these are the children who are accustomed to large amounts of TV watching.
When we had small children, Mick and talked it over and decided together how much, or should I say how little, TV and what sort of programs they would be allowed to watch. I’m not suggesting getting rid of TV all together. Our son watched many educational shows about animals which was his big passion, and we did too, and were able to talk with him about things raised. We did not allow our children to watch many shows their friends watched.
We also limited our TV watching while children were up, so that programs were not disturbing to them. More often we played board games or outdoor games with them. It comes back to how much input parents want to have in bringing up their kids. ‘Early childhood is a critical period for brain development and formation of behavior,’ warns Dr Pagani, a psychosocial professor and researcher.
We wanted to be able to say we had done our best and spent time with them talking to them and enjoying them. Now, like all parents, I’ve no doubt we didn’t always get it right but Mick and I look at them as adults now both married, we’re pleased with the way they have turned out and the way they relate to other people, including us.
How much TV do you and your spouse allow your pre-schoolchildren to watch?
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