So, many of us know that TV viewing by children under that age of 2 is not recommended for their development, but what about if our children are playing with their toys, and we have the TV on in the background...is that harmful?
According to a new study by researcher Marie Evans Schmidt (at the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital in Boston), "background TV does actually disrupt the children's play, as TV is an ever-changing audiovisual distractor". Even more concerning is the finding that "background TV is potentially a chronic environmental risk factor", as imaginative play is crucial to healthy cognitive and social skills development...and background TV is interrupting this healthy play".
Does this new finding change how you see the use of TV in your home, whether you have infants, toddlers, school-aged children or teenagers? What role does media entertainment play in your life?
[Source: Child Development Journal, July/August 2008]