After overloading my son with technology, I became an advocate against toddlers using technology before kindergarten. So you can imagine my surprise when my sister purchased a reading program for my two year old niece that required her to watch CD's. In the beginning I argued against this but after research and reviews, I warmed up to the idea. I constantly heard my sister praise the program and I sat through countless gatherings where my niece showed what she had learned. I thought this program was a win/win and began to recommend it myself.
Yet after one year of practice, things have changed. One evening while babysitting my niece, I suggested that we watch her reading CD. She began to whine and protest. When I asked why she was so upset, she stated, “Them take too long and I don’t like them.” I didn’t understand because I watched the sessions and thought that they were timed and didn’t appear too long. Then I began to wonder, has she grown frustrated with the CD's because they are being overused. I know that we as parents often see progress in our children and thrive for more. This brought me to wonder: “At what age should kids begin to use computers”?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming. They also noted that the average kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games.
I agree with AAP, children should be restrained from technology until they are cognitively more developed. At such a young age, I don’t think that their brains are wired well enough to handle television or computers. Although I have viewed excellent educational programs for toddlers, people should still wait before subjecting them to the flashing lights. Instead of technology they should be taught the old fashion way with books, flashcards, and conversation.
If children are introduced to technology, how often should they be engaged? As I stated, I was guilty of misusing technology with my son. A typical day for him involved watching Scooby Doo for 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes during afternoon nap. Later in the evening he watched 30 minutes while I prepared dinner and later 30 minutes to help get him to sleep at night. This was a minimal of two hours every day. If this is done continuously all week, that is a total of 840 hours per week! I often wonder about the damage that I might have done to his brain. I don’t know the answer to either question but I think that children today are being introduced too technology to early and using it too much.
As I write this blog, I’ve noticed a tremendous growth in my niece’s vocabulary but if it is a trade-off for the proper development of her brain, I say: “No Way-Technology Can Wait!”
It’s amazing how many parents replace parenting with the television. I don’t have children yet but planning a wedding in April. We are planning on having children right away and this is something we have not discussed. Two hours seem like such a little bit of time when you split it up in 30 minute increments like you did with your son. I remember when there was just one television in my parents’ house. By the time my brother was born we had one in each room. I remember being so proud of myself of having a television in each bedroom when my 4th grade teacher asked us how many televisions we had. I can say now we only own one but we have 3 computers between the two of us. This article has some great plans on how to impose time limits on your children: CMCH Suggestions: Establish Time Limits
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article, I will definitely pass this information on to other parents. Congrats. on the wedding and thanks for teaching our military children.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was enlisted in the military, I used to see the other young couples plop their babies in front of the TV and put on the Teletubbies or whatever. I used to say "Pretty sure you shouldn't do that" and they just responded by saying the kids love it. Well, crackheads love crack and that isn't good for them either. I have even seen one recommendation that kids shouldn't watch TV until they are 5! While that may seem unrealistic, what does TV offer children? Cheap entertainment that doesn't require imagination. Even with their Baby Einstein DVDs, we need focus more on development and less on easy.
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ReplyDeleteI am not a parent yet, but have 7 nephews, 5 nieces and many associates, coworkers amd friends that have children. I often hear them say that they use TV, DVDs, and other electronic devices to keep their kids quiet, in other words, as an electronic babysitter. Recently, I sat next to a family on the plane and each of their children had their own gadget. The youngest (2 or 3) had an iPad to entertain her, loaded with all of her favorite TV shows. I asked the mother how she liked the iPad and was told that the child loves it so much, they had to buy a second iPad for themselves. WOW! A 2/3 year old with an iPad of her own.
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