Tidewater School, A Waldorf Approach to Education: Babies and TV

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Suhit_a bookmarked on 2009-10-12

Watching television does not make babies smarter, according to a study released this week in the journal Pediatrics, adding to existing research that challenges the usefulness of baby educational videos and DVDs. A pediatrician recommends using blocks, puzzles and books to entertain the baby rather than TV.
Babies who spent more time watching TV had lower language and visual motor skills at age 3.
"there's still more evidence of harm than benefit as far as TV viewing in infancy is concerned."
Rich, a pediatrician who directs the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston, said TV watching during infancy instills habits that promote obesity. "You're teaching 4- or 5- or 6-month-olds how to watch TV," he said. "They're learning to watch TV. The more they watch as they get older, they're snacking in front of TV, they're exposed to snack-food commercials, which inspire them to eat even more and sit even more. It is a cumulative effect of many, many factors."
Rich, the study co-author, recommended relying on what has been proved to benefit children. "The best thing for our kids is to provide them with stimulus that we know is positive for their brain development," Rich said. He suggesting activities like reading, singing, interacting and stacking blocks to help children."

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