Responsibility and Electronic Media

So, what would say is the benefit for a child between the ages of zero to three to watch an educational video or television program?  The promoters of the video or program probably would have a litany of the educational benefits.  How could Elmo counting and doing the alphabet not be beneficial for my 11 month old to watch?  It will help them learn their numbers and letters, right?  Wrong!

There have been very few studies on the benefits of electronic media, i.e. television, on children ages zero to three, but the studies that have been done have come to similar conclusions.  There is really only one thing that a child between the ages of zero and three learns from watching an educational video or television program.  Any guesses?  They learn to identify characters.  Not bad, right?  At least that's something.  Well, it is something, something wonderful for the marketers behind the electronic media because now they are able to build brand loyalty earlier than ever.

That child that watches the Elmo video will now begin to recognize Elmo everywhere like the box of crackers at the store, the book at the library, the shoes on his little playmates feet.  Now going to the store with mommy becomes an Elmo spotting adventure with the child wanting everything he sees with Elmo on it.  Mommy will possibly give in and so begins brand loyalty.

Brand loyalty isn't that bad.  Kids want things, it's part of being a kid.  There are though seriously negative effects from early television watching as well.  Such as, some researchers believe that the child is in a seizure like state while watching, that is why it appears that they are so mesmorized by what they see.  Also, researchers found that just having a television on in the same room that your child is playing in reduces their ability to focus.  One study observed that a 12 month old was able to focus on a toy for one minute with no television on, but when a television was on in the room they were playing in their focus decreased to 25 seconds and they weren't even watching the television.

I believe that we, as parents, have a responsibility to our children to do what is best for them.  I know that often we have questions about what is best and we consult the experts for help.  It is crucial that we use discernment when doing this and really do our research, which isn't always easy.