It's something every new parent grapples with: How much TV is
too much TV?Researchers at the University of Washington have found really young kids seem to be watching a lot
of it. And while they're not sure how bad that is for them, they know it's not
entirely good. Here's what their survey turned up:
90 percent of children under the age of 2 watch TV and videos regularly
40 percent of infants under 3 months are, too (Three months?)
29 percent of parents whose babies are watching TV and DVDs believe the
educational programming is
good for their brain stimulation, though no research has
proven this
Sure, every parent of a baby and young toddler needs a break, but check out the
full story
in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to help you decide how much is okay.
Remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for
children younger than 2, and only one to two hours a day of quality programming
for older children.
Resist the temptation to put TVs in children's bedrooms, too. The academy says
one of out of every five children age 2 or younger has a TV in his bedroom.
There's another reason this may not be a good thing — an increased risk of obesity for
preschoolers who have TVs in their bedrooms.
So, truthfully, do you think babies should watch any TV or
videos? Please share how you manage the balance of educational videos, TV, and
good old-fashioned play with your little ones.
