by Ann Clemmons

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 17, 2007

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two years of age not watch any television, and that older children should watch very little a day. However, according to Frederick Zimmerman, of the University of Washington, a study he conducted showed 90 percent of children under the age of two and 40 per cent of babies fewer than 3 months old, watch television regularly! I found this number horrifying! However, Zimmerman, whose research appears in the Archives of Pediatrics, also said, "Parents are getting the message loud and clear from television marketers and videos that this is good for their kids. That it will help their brain development. None of this stuff has ever been proven."

Zimmerman conducted his research via telephone; he spoke to approximately 1,000 families, at random. I am sorry, but I do not understand how we can think television is actually good for our children's brains. I mean, I suppose some educational viewing is certainly better than regular television; however, I would prefer my kids read a book. There are plenty of studies proving how bad television is for older children and teens, how can it possibly be good for babies?

For example, a second study showed television viewing could cause learning problems down the road for kids that watch too much television when they are young. This study at the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine said that teens who watch hours of television a day are more likely to have learning disabilities. Some say that television is dumbing down our society.

How do our children learn language and social skills from a television set? These studies produced the same results in all different social and economic backgrounds. Zimmerman also stated, "We don't know from the study whether it is good or bad. What we do know is that it is big." I would have to agree with that statement!

29% of the parents who participated in the study think that baby oriented programs and videos are actually good for their children. Again, how do these programs teach language and social skills would be my question.- Scary Stuff Folks-

Contributing Article- MSNBC.com

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