Toddlers and TV

There have been many reports over the last few years about the negative aspects of children watching TV. Indeed, a recent study from Michigan and Montreal universities found negative effects on older children rose with every hour of toddler TV. But is TV always such a bad idea?

Toddlers and TV

The study, part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development Main Exposure, asked parents how much TV their children watched at 29 months (two years and five months) and 53 months (four years and five months). On average, the two-year-olds watched just under nine hours of TV per week, while, for four-year-olds, the average was just under fifteen hours.

More worryingly, however, the study also found that eleven per cent of the two-year-olds and 23 per cent of four-year-olds watched more than the recommended maximum of two hours of TV a day! When the children were revisited at the age of ten, teachers were asked to assess the children’s academic performance, behaviour and health. Their body mass index (BMI) was also measured rs old.

Higher levels of TV viewing at two was linked to a lower level of engagement in the classroom and poor achievement in maths.

The report from the US and Canadian universities supported another American study from a few years ago, when scientists found that, for every hour of television watched daily, toddlers faced a ten per cent increased risk of having attention problems by the age of seven. That report concluded that children under two should watch no television at all, while older children should be allowed to watch no more than two hours a day.

The findings of both studies suggested that television over stimulates a child’s mind as a result of the unrealistically fast-paced visual images. But is TV always bad for young children? With some clear guidelines and by carefully monitoring the programmes watched, your toddler can enjoy some TV without becoming a victim of attention disorders.

Watch with mother

Always try to watch TV with your child, whenever and wherever possible. Just being with your child tells them that what they do is important to you.

Develop the content

If a programme has introduced a new concept, such as a new number, talk to your child about it later and find other examples. Or read a book together, which includes number concepts.

Limit the time

If your child is under two, try to keep TV to a minimum. If you do choose to allow them to watch, then break it up into ten to fifteen minute slots. More than that and your child’s brain will go into autopilot. From age two to three the total viewing time should be an hour a day.

Parents’ guide to the most popular children’s programmes:

In the Night Garden

This features a large cast of colourful characters with unusual names, who live in an area of sparsely wooded grassland scattered with large daisies and brightly-coloured balls of flowers. Each episode starts with a child in bed (a different child appears in each episode), while the narrator introduces the episode. The episodes end with one character receiving a bedtime story, which is generated by the Magic Roundabout-style gazebo that sits at the centre of the Night Garden. This story is a summary of the plot of the episode.

Teletubbies

Set in magical Teletubbyland, Teletubbies use bright colours, engaging stories and fun games. Based on a fundamental understanding of how very young children develop, it allows young children to feel happy and secure. The programme includes live-action inserts of young children growing up around the world, broadening a child’s understanding of their world.

Balamory

Balamory stands in contrast to the puppet programmes in that it is a drama with human characters, who interact with each other and the viewer. The characters are extrovert and colourful, but they inject a sense of reality through the introduction of characters, such as Susie Sweet, who is in a wheelchair.

Fimbles

The idea of ‘finding’ is central to the Fimbles. The friendly-faced costumed characters, Fimbo, Florrie and Baby Pom have instant appeal, while their physical movements reflect those of a young child. Good use is made of appropriate questioning, which encourages children to think about what they are viewing and engage in the process.