Comments on: Not-so-brainy babies http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/08/not-so-brainy-babies/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: greifer http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/08/not-so-brainy-babies/#comment-35112 greifer Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:10:30 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/08/07/not-so-brainy-babies/#comment-35112 I don't even understand HOW you get a child to sit and watch tv. Even if I tried to get my 14 mo. son to watch tv, it lasts all of 3 minutes before he's bored of it, and back to pushing his trucks, balls or blocks around the room. What child sits still long enough to care about tv, even "interactive" tv? Now, of course my kid knows how to turn on the tv, but that's all about buttons, not about actual viewing. I also don't understand the need to use the tv when you're too tired of child-parent interaction either. For the under 2 set, can't you just put toys in the crib if you really need them to stay put? For the over 2 set, won't they just play? I don’t even understand HOW you get a child to sit and watch tv. Even if I tried to get my 14 mo. son to watch tv, it lasts all of 3 minutes before he’s bored of it, and back to pushing his trucks, balls or blocks around the room. What child sits still long enough to care about tv, even “interactive” tv? Now, of course my kid knows how to turn on the tv, but that’s all about buttons, not about actual viewing.

I also don’t understand the need to use the tv when you’re too tired of child-parent interaction either. For the under 2 set, can’t you just put toys in the crib if you really need them to stay put? For the over 2 set, won’t they just play?

]]> By: Ashley http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/08/not-so-brainy-babies/#comment-35111 Ashley Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:22:15 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/08/07/not-so-brainy-babies/#comment-35111 Research like this has been around for years. And a lot of this has to do with individual children — no two kids are the same, so a generalization about how watching television delays speech development in young children may not apply to every kid. That said, it scares me when kids under two years old watch a lot of TV. A few minutes here or there in the background isn’t much, but when a one-year-old knows characters by name but can’t yet move away from the TV on his or her own … that’s not good. Research such as this is important to consider when choosing media options for children. Certainly interactive shows, such as Blue’s Clues and Sesame Street have had thousands of research studies conducted on their educational effectiveness. However, with the growing number of programs (and even networks!) out there catering specifically to preschoolers and babies, a lot of content slips through the cracks. Thanks for pointing this out to your readers! It is always important to remind parents and caregivers to analyze what (and at what age) their children are watching. Research like this has been around for years. And a lot of this has to do with individual children — no two kids are the same, so a generalization about how watching television delays speech development in young children may not apply to every kid.

That said, it scares me when kids under two years old watch a lot of TV. A few minutes here or there in the background isn’t much, but when a one-year-old knows characters by name but can’t yet move away from the TV on his or her own … that’s not good.

Research such as this is important to consider when choosing media options for children. Certainly interactive shows, such as Blue’s Clues and Sesame Street have had thousands of research studies conducted on their educational effectiveness. However, with the growing number of programs (and even networks!) out there catering specifically to preschoolers and babies, a lot of content slips through the cracks.

Thanks for pointing this out to your readers! It is always important to remind parents and caregivers to analyze what (and at what age) their children are watching.

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