The Dangers of Second-Hand TV
Kids can be negatively affected by television--even if they're not watching.
Just because a child isn't actually watching TV doesn't mean it doesn't have an ill effect on child development, according to new research from the University of Massachusetts. The study played Jeopardy! in the background as it observed children ages 1-3 playing with various toys.
The heady game show was chosen because researchers theorized it is almost incomprehensible to toddlers. When the TV was on, children played with a toy half as long as they did when the television was off. Although the difference might seem slight, researcher Daniel Anderson fears the effects might be cumulative. And with the proliferation of childhood diagnoses of ADD, it would seem anything that contributes to a child's lack of focus should be taken seriously.
The study is frightening to parents who regularly watch television while kids enjoy playtime on the floor nearby. But critics of the study say that any distraction--be it a car outside, or a bird flying by a window will lesson a child's focus on a toy and that the mere seconds it does is insignificant.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero hours in front of the television for infants and toddlers under age 3. That might be the ideal, but how many of us parents can really stick to that recommendation?
Will this study change your television habits?
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