Media and the Very Young, II

Last post I referred to a Kaiser Family Foundation study which makes clear that TV and media are over-used in most American homes, especially for very young children. More on that report today.

The research showed that an over-reliance on TV time is due in part to homes where TVs are on all the time, and homes that allow TVs in children's bedrooms.

But the report also said parents cite benefits of their young children watching programming. Parents told Kaiser that allowing TVs in the children's bedrooms lets kids watch their own programs; avoid fights with siblings; stay occupied so parents can do things around the house; and help fall asleep.

Parents also said they use TV to reward good behavior, and just more than half reported TV tends to calm their children down.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has urged no screen time at all for kids under 2, and no more than 2 hours a day for those 2 and older.

Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a psychiatrist who has written several books about children, warned that TV and media is wrong for youngsters and said...passive involvement with media is detrimental to children's development.

Application: Anecdotally it seems that our son's special needs and different way of learning is fed in a good way by select TV viewing. He finds some comfort and entertainment in repeatedly viewing appropriate kids videos. Truth be told, the big benefit of that TV time is for Mom! When he is watching those videos or shows she has a bit of a break. He is so very intense in his needs, and she finds a breather in that hour. She tends to the other kids in the family, or to the bills, or makes phone calls.

In our family - right now - we are relying on the TV more than we ever did for the older children. I don't feel guilty about it - until I read a report like this one. Yikes! Can I reconsider? Should I?

That said...at this stage in life, given the circumstances, allowing Little Man to watch a bit more on media seems appropriate, and as we DO monitor usage, not problematic.

And it does seem very, very necessary.