I have seen babies as young as one month old spending time before the television. They watch everything — from the English Premier League, SpongeBob SquarePants to Hindi daily soaps! But have we ever wondered what television viewing from a very young age may do to our children?
Yes, television can occupy your children for hours. Apparently, they love TV programs. But the truth is the undeveloped brain of a baby cannot process more than one function at a time. As a result, she cannot shift her attention from the television screen, she keeps staring at it regardless of whether she understands a word or not. Moreover, a baby cannot and does not understand TV programs. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no television time for babies under the age of two.
Research has shown that a child’s brain grows rapidly during the first two years of his life. What exposure to television and other entertainment media does is prevent the normal development of this brain. A child learns best by interacting with other people, not with screens. Some parents expose their young children to educational television programs, thinking that they can learn "good things" from such programs. The truth is, babies cannot comprehend the messages of these programs, they also do not develop language skills by watching these programs — children learn to speak from people around them. So, to boost your child’s language skills, talk to him and read to him and play with him. Even background noise or second-hand television viewing can affect your baby! In our home, we do not switch on the television when the baby is awake. We also try not to expose her to computers, tablets and cell phones.
Children’s creativity sparks when they play with simple toys. My eight-month-old daughter plays with toys that are neither fancy nor expensive. She also plays with empty plastic boxes, bottles and even wooden spoons from my kitchen! When you give your child hi-tech toys to play with, you will notice that she loses interest in it as soon as she finds out what particular button of the toy does what. Once your child becomes a toddler, consider buying building blocks or Lego sets for her so that she learns to exercise her brain.
When your babies become toddlers and begin to sleep alone, do not place televisions or video game consoles in their bedrooms. Instead, encourage your baby to read books and play board games. Media consumption from a tender age has shown to result in attention deficiency, school difficulties, eating and even sleep disorders. You can introduce your baby to sturdy board books when he is as little as six months. This will spark his interest in reading and also promote hand-eye coordination. Last but not least, media consumption from a young age often makes babies materialistic down the line. They learn about all the things that are available out there and as they grow up, they begin to demand them. And as parents, we often give in and fill our houses with what our children want, not necessarily what they need.
Date of Publication: May 21, 2013
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