Health
How Much TV Is Too Much?
Sep
So how much TV is too much!? Okay everyone, I am a huge TV junky!!! Full on Boob tube zombi! And guess what, so is my three-year-old. I kid you not, I usually have two televisions going on at once! So when Tristan was 2 years old and his pediatrician picked up on his lack of words I very quickly feared he got too much TV time. I knew more than 30min a day for infants and toddlers was already frowned upon so the amount Tristan was getting was way out of control:(
Quick Tip:
Why to Avoid TV for Infants & Toddlers
​By: David L. Hill, MD, FAAP 10/21/2016, American Academy of Pediatrics (copyright 2016)
Parents are often shocked when I tell them that pediatricians think it’s a bad idea for children to watch TV or use mobile apps before age 18 months, because most toddlers already have. Surveys tell us that 92.2% of 1-year-olds have already used a mobile device, some starting as young as age 4 months.
I hear a lot of parents say, “But my baby likes it!” Infants may stare at the bright colors and motion on a screen, but their brains are incapable of making sense or meaning out of all those bizarre pictures.
Early Brain Development
It takes around 18 months for a baby’s brain to develop to the point where the symbols on a screen come to represent their equivalents in the real world.
What infants and toddlers need most to learn is interaction with the people around them. That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t video-chat with a distant grandparent or a deployed parent, but when it comes to day-to-day learning they need to touch things, shake them, throw them, and most of all to see the faces and hear the voices of those they love the most. Apps can teach toddlers to tap and swipe at a screen, but studies tell us that these skills don’t translate into real-world learning. See Healthy Digital Media Use Habits for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers.
In all honesty I did get very serious about Tristan’s TV time but of course some days are better than others, and some weeks are better than others! On the good runs with very little to no TV I DO see an improvement in his talking and communication. The main difference I see is that he tries to talk and communicate and we all know success only comes when trying occurs! Tristan has added lots of words to his vocabulary and is repeating words a lot clearer in recent weeks. He has also been signing songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and some that I can only figure came from school. They are not very clear but the tune is always the same and some of the words are clear! Plus it’s so stinking cute!!
Side Note: I am happy to report on a previous parenting blog! I started potty training Tristan about 3 weeks ago and we are completely successful with peeing on the potty!!!!:) We are not there with the number 2s but I count my blessings with the number 1s! I found that pull-ups worked for me and we used gummy bears and serious dancing and singing celebrations after every success!
Thanks for Reading!
Heidi Parker
