One of the great debates in parenting circles is whether the “educational” DVDs marketed to older infants and toddlers actually gives those kids a developmental edge. A new study out this week in the journal Pediatrics provides the final piece of the puzzle we’ve all needed to end this debate once and for all. The claims made by those popular DVDs just did not hold up when 900 kids were followed from birth through their first 3 years of age. In other words, those kids did not improve their development one bit by watching “educational DVDs”.
I just returned from Fox25 Boston where I discussed this study in more detail and reviewed the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for TV viewing in children. Here’s the clip with all the ins and outs of this study and TV watching in small kids:
Check out these links for more information:
TV and Toddlers (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Connected Kids (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Center on Media and Child Health (Children’s Hospital Boston)
Hi Dr. Gwenn, I enjoyed your TV interview and blog about children watching TV and DVD’s. It is such an awesome joy to interact with our children. I agree with your recommendation of placing children in a pack and play/playpen with a book if a parent needs some moments to do something while a child is awake. Reading, listening to music or building something with their hands is far more constructive. I am concerned that parents feel they must continually entertain their children. We need to provide the safe play areas and just let them play… as you well stated. Thanks for being a voice for the positive development of children.
Dawn Ginese R.N. The Singing Nurse
Hi Dawn:
Thanks for adding your 2cents to this discussion! You are so right about parents feeling that they need to entertain their kids 24/7. Kids need to learn to play alone and self-soothe and that is very much part of normal development, too. Great point to remind people about.
Dr. G