Here's an issue your parents never had to consider: the great babies-and-TV debate. Depending on which studies, experts, and commercials you listen to, tuning in to Baby Einstein and the like will turn baby into either a mini couch potato or...well...a baby Einstein. But what's the truth? Is it time to panic and trash the telly, or should you let your little one log more hours in front of the tube? Read on for a few findings to help you make sense of it all.
Before age two, TV won't teach them much...
"The bottom line is that we have no proof that television is good for infants' brains," says Daniel Anderson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and children's television expert. In fact, one study from 2007 found that babies under 22 months old were unable to learn new words from television programs. Compare those findings to marketing campaigns that imply baby DVDs boost intelligence, and things get pretty confusing. "New parents are already incredibly vulnerable, and the advertising leads them to think: 'If I don't use these videos, somehow my kid will be behind,'" says Deborah Linebarger, PhD, principal investigator of the effects of media on children at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. "The truth is there's not much difference whether you give your child a pot and pan or a video." Another important factor for what your baby is able to get out of these DVDs is your own willingness to interact. "To really learn, babies need adults to watch with them and explain the connection between the programs and real life," says Dr. Linebarger. "But they won't get much out of sitting alone in front of the TV, just like they're not going to understand a book if you just hand it to them."
...but it's not going to kill them, either
Though a recent, highly publicized study out of the University of Washington linked increased TV viewing with decreased vocabulary in babies, the findings are far from definitive. The results of the study point to a correlative relationship rather than a causal one, which means that other variables could certainly be coming into play. Doesn't it seem plausible that, say, parents who let their infants watch more TV may themselves be less educated and have a more limited vocabulary? Those infants would then naturally be exposed to fewer words. It's the classic chicken/egg conundrum, and there isn't enough evidence to draw any real conclusions yet.
Get real about why you're letting them watch
Though the claims that DVDs can truly enrich infants are shaky, there's no question that they can be absolute lifesavers for mom and dad. "There isn't any evidence that using a baby video for 10 minutes now and then while you take a shower or cook will be harmful to your child," says Dr. Anderson. "But do so with the full understanding that it's for you, not your child." Convince yourself that the tube is truly helping your kid, and you're likely to let them watch much more.
Be aware of background TV
Baby-specific DVDs aren't the only type of TV parents need to think about. Leaving a small set on can have a profound effect on a baby's attention span, and the supporting evidence for this finding is strong. "If a TV is on, children stay with a toy for half the time they would if the TV wasn't on, and their attention is much less focused," says Dr. Anderson. Though this may not sound too earth-shattering, a baby's solitary play is an integral part of development. "This is where they develop physical skills and act out symbolic and childhood scripts," says Dr. Anderson.
You aren't as great at multitasking as you think
When it comes to background TV, your own attention span also comes into play. Even if it feels like you're totally engaged in a game with your baby while one eye is on the morning news, substantial evidence shows the interaction is much more passive than if the tube weren't on. "In studies, the baby will show the parent something, and when the TV is on, the parent will say, 'That's nice,'" says Dr. Anderson. "If the TV isn't on, parents will use it as an opportunity to engage, find out why the child thinks it's interesting, and check if any help is needed." And that's where the true learning comes in.
Not all videos are created equal
So what's the best DVD pick for those 20 minutes when you're cooking dinner or getting dressed... or simply taking a minute to breathe? Go for a program like Sesame Beginnings or Eebee's Adventures because the pacing and context mimics real life. Shows that encourage audience participation such as Blue's Clues or Dora the Explorer are also good bets since they expose babies to the rhythm of real-life interactions. Conversely, shows that use a magazine format and hop from one topic to the next, such as Sesame Street or Barney, aren't great for babies, who are unable to hold on to the storyline. Teletubbies is another no-no. "It has really poor language models," says Dr. Linebarger. "We found that the kids who watched a lot of it tended to use less sophisticated forms of language."
Should babies watch TV? Here's what The Nest Baby users think:
- 15% said: Yes -- baby DVDs are great learning tools
- 19% said: Never -- it harms intelligence and development
- 62% said: Doesn't hurt here and there, but doesn't help either
- 5% said: Not sure/none of the above
Photo: Matthew Richmond/The Nest Baby
