QUICK DISCLAIMER: All views & OPINIONS expressed in Matt's Column are his own and the topics are that of his own choice. These are not articles.
Scientists have claimed that educational television for children under the age of two is a “waste of time” and could even “Stunt their development”.
They said that children under that age are not “sufficiently developed” to learn from television but watching too much can slow their speech development, and make them behave badly.
Shows such as Sesame Street spin-off Sesame Tree and a number of others shown on BBC's CBeebies could be considered to fit in the category the scientists criticised.
The team from the American Academy of Pediatrics say the best way to help a child’s brain development is unstructured playtime, alone or with parents.
Parents who watch grown-up TV programmes while in the company of their children also came under fire, as this limits interaction.
Researchers also warned against letting children watch TV before bedtime, as this can lead to bad sleep habits and ultimately affect their mood and behaviour.
It seems these days everything you do as a parent gets criticised and is the “wrong thing to do” I don’t know of anybody who has grown up watching the likes of Bill & Ben growing up to suffer from brain damage, do you? Of course too much Television for children is terrible and parents should not rely on educational programming to educate their kids. Television is something which you can simply not keep out of a child’s life and previous studies have shown that actually allowing them a certain set time everyday of television is actually good for them in the long run... but it should just not be used as an escapism. Parents want to watch the likes of In the night garden with their children, it is just something for the child and parent to enjoy together.
The scientists possibly have something in the fact that before bedtime it maybe a bad idea but other than that if it was up to scientists we wouldn’t be able to do anything. With that in mind however they may have some sense in what they are saying. I’m sure you have all been unfortunate enough to see an episode of the Teletubbies? they don’t speak English! surely that is a bad thing? Sesame Street on the other hand to use an example is English, so surely our children are learning something from them by listening? just absorbing the learning as the likes of Big Bird is teaching children how to count to 10! Teletubbies on the other hands is complete gibberish and I would go as far to say mind numbing for children, in that sense the scientists I would imagine have a point.
I was a major fan of the Tweenies as I was growing up, yes probably to a sense of addiction, however I learnt lots! surely that’s a good sign that I can remember some things I learnt off a TV programme separate from what I have learnt in the classroom?
Children’s educational ways and means have changed dramatically in recent times, event to when I was a child and I see nothing wrong with a parent putting her child in front of the television for half an hour or so whilst he/she has a break! it isn’t lazy parenting, the television is a useful tool... I’m still saddened at the fact The Tweenies isn’t broadcasting much anymore!
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