The danger of the TV for young children
One study found that exposing toddlers on TV soon cause delays school, problems of violence and health, such as obesity.
Research teams from the University of Montreal in Canada and Michigan in the United States collaborated in this study highlighting the dangers of television for young children.
This research conducted a large scale, with more than 1314 children (of 2120 participants), has only confirm and highlight the harmful effects of television with children.
TV diminishes the capacity of the child meet his basic learning
Contrary to some reports suggesting that television is educational, it would result inevitably in the medium term, learning difficulties and health problems for children.
Researchers are very accurate and can even predict that children aged between two and four years watching TV too often have inferior results, the order of 6% in mathematics from the age of ten years. This exhibition on the screen, even in the context of programming designed for children, has a direct impact on the educational future.
2 years before: no TV for toddlers
This latest study confirms that exposure, even marginally on television, delays the development of children and especially between two and four years. Linda S. Pagani, lead author of the study and professor in the School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, said that television is a passive activity, intellectually, physically and socially. However, in child development, these are the games and social interaction that are fundamental.
The research results show that each time too, spent watching television, will result in a decrease in future:
- 7% of the commitment and interest in school;
- 13% of sports activities of the weekend;
- 9% interest in activities requiring physical effort.
These are just the impacts associated with intellectual and physical development, and other psychosocial effects on health are at stake.
Not to recommend young children watching television for three years. Indeed, the flow of images and sounds, which they are exposed and they do not understand, may hinder their development.
Television toddlers harmful to their mental
Already in 2004, researchers at Seattle Children's Hospital had conducted a study concluding that this recommendation: Children under two should not watch television. Dr. Christakis explained while exposure to television on the brain-stimulated, up to the final edit. Which leads the child to adopt harmful mental habits. These are realized by poor concentration and impulsive and restless behaviors.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis of the University of Washington in Seattle is at the origin of a study (2007) finding that the highly acclaimed video, Baby Einstein, can even hinder learning!
Television and victimization in the classroom
Every hour of watching TV too also has a serious impact on the social development of the child. The study found that, under these conditions, the risk of victimization by classmates increases by 10%!
Being often watching TV causes children to have less contact with people his age, less physical activity, making it more vulnerable. Stunned by this passive activity, the child comes to have the typical profile of the scapegoat in the classroom. They are often physically weak, introverted, have little confidence in social relationships, do not know to react to aggression, they are anxious, often alone, etc..
The impact of television on children's health
Watch TV often leads to unhealthy eating habits. Thus, consumption of soft drinks and unhealthy food is increased by 9% and 10 watching television. This leads to an increase of 5% of their body mass index (BMI) to a minimum.
"Dose" maximum daily hours spent watching television for children 2 to 5 years
Ms. Pagani says the risks are high for the children watching more than two hours a day, before their fifth birthday. Recall, also, that the CSA and many pediatricians advise against small television less than three years.
It is between zero and five years as the child develops behaviors intellectuals who follow him all his life.
Even the programs produced for children are no substitute for parental education, games, interactions with the world around them.
Television advertising: the consumer society in toddlers
Research conducted by Dr. Christakis has shown that the child can, as early as three years, apply a product by its brand name. Worse, at six months, the child is capable of forming images of logo and mascot brands.
Imagine then the thousands of ads that can view the small screen ... This bodes many scenes in shops and supermarkets, where the child wish to get the product that will boost the screen. These quirks are probably less, if the child was less "watered" television and formed, so small, the consumer society, in spite of himself.
In conclusion, all parents concerned about their child's development must be careful not to jeopardize his future. It is vital to realize that television can, from an early age, detrimental to child development and, moreover, lead to unhealthy provisions in adolescence.