Children under the age of 2 shouldn’t watch television or videos because studies suggest it may delay their development, including their ability to talk, according to a group of pediatricians.
That same advice was first issued in 1999 by the American Academy of Pediatricians. On Tuesday, the group reiterated its recommendations based on the introduction of numerous screen devices and a decade’s worth of new studies on the negative effects of TV on learning, thinking, language skills, mood and behavior.
Children learn more from play and interaction with people, the doctors said. Further, parents who watch their own programs while a child is around may be distracted, and it detracts from play and activities that are key to a child’s development.
Parents should avoid placing a TV in their children’s bedrooms and be aware that their own media use may have a negative effect on children, the group said.
“The concerns raised in the original policy statement are even more relevant now, which led us to develop a more comprehensive piece of guidance around this age group,” said a statement released by the group. The policy statement will be published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.
The recommendations add data showing that TV viewing around bedtime causes poor sleep and that young children with “heavy media use” are at risk for language delays once they start school.
