Maybe not OT--Babies and TV

[Shannon Nelson]

This is in today's Mercola newsletter, and seems like something we be
making our parent-patients aware of!

Why You Want to Keep Your Baby Away From the TV!

POSTED BY
Dr. Mercola
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April 24, 2007
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Allowing children under 3 to watch television can impair their
linguistic and social development, and also put them at risk of health
problems including attention-deficit disorder, autism and obesity.

Before the age of 3, children's brains go through rapid development and
are being physically shaped in response to whatever they are exposed
to.

Exposing children to fast-moving images for sustained periods at this
time can inhibit their ability to sustain attention, and hinder their
development of social skills.

Research suggests that television can also cause irregular sleep
patterns for infants and toddlers, and decrease their resting metabolic
rate, which compounds the physiological problems that come with lack of
exercise.

At least one study suggests that early exposure to TV can be a trigger
for autism.
Guardian Unlimited April 24, 2007
Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Earlier this year, I told you about the work of Dr. Aric Sigman, a
noted British psychologist who's just as concerned as I am about the
dire effects TV can have on kids.

The summarized and linked Guardian article above explains Dr. Sigman's
views about the harmful effects TV can have on the health of young ones
watching as little as 90 minutes a day.

Kids don't need a TV to help them get interested in the outside world.
As Dr. Sigman so accurately put it, "The world around them [children]
gets them interested in the outside world."

I understand the temptation to allow the TV to serve as a surrogate
babysitter because our culture has created such an economic challenge
that the resources are frequently not available to provide an optimal
parenting setting.

You have to do what you have to do. However, it is important to realize
that there are consequences for your choices, and just like choosing to
consume fast food, you may regret the long-term complications.

For the record, Dr. Sigman believes no baby under age 3 should be
watching TV at all, and those between the ages of 3 and 7 should be
limited to no more than an hour in front of the tube daily.

If you believe these restrictions are too harsh, however, consider all
the health issues, including childhood obesity and a lack of exercise,
that the presence of an always-on TV exacerbates. In addition, TV can:

* Change your child's views and food choices
* Make your kids more materialistic
* Cause your children to go into more debt as adults
* Cause your children to be more aggressive
* Lead to smoking
* Increase your child's risk of becoming seriously injured

Begin the process of lessening your reliance on a TV to "babysit" your
child today by taking some time to engage them in activities that have
nothing at all to do with sitting in front of a glow box.

Related Articles:

You Can Give Up Your TV

TV Watching, Childhood Obesity Linked

Get The TV OUT of Your Child's Room says the American Academy of
Pediatrics

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