Chapter 22: Problem 2

Research has linked watching a lot of television during the toddler years with later attention problems. How common is this practice? Has this increased or decreased in recent years? What advice do you have, given these findings, for parents of toddlers?

Short Answer

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Answer: Studies have shown a correlation between watching excessive television during toddler years and an increased risk of developing attention problems like ADHD later in life. To mitigate these risks, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to no more than one hour of high-quality content per day and engaging toddlers in outdoor play or interactive learning activities to promote healthy development.

Step by step solution

Introduction and Context

This exercise focuses on the potential consequences of watching television during the early years of a child's development, specifically during toddlerhood. There have been studies that suggest a correlation between watching a lot of TV during these formative years and the development of attention problems later in life. In this discussion, we will look into the prevalence of this practice, its trends over recent years, and provide advice for parents of toddlers based on the findings.

Research on Television and Attention Problems

According to several research studies, watching too much television in the toddler years may lead to attention problems like ADHD later in life. One study published in Pediatrics found that for every hour children aged 1-3 watched television, they had a 10% higher chance of developing attention problems by age 7. It is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation and more research is needed for a definitive conclusion.

Prevalence of the Practice

Monitoring the prevalence of toddlers watching television is challenging due to the reliance on self-reported data from parents. However, a survey conducted by Common Sense Media in 2017 showed that children aged 0-8 spent an average of two hours and 19 minutes daily on screen media, of which the majority was television. This could suggest that the practice of watching television during the toddler years is quite common.

Trends Over Recent Years

The same survey by Common Sense Media reported a decline in this screen time for children aged 0-8 when compared to their data from 2011, which showed daily screen time of around two hours and 45 minutes. The numbers, however, do not indicate a clear trend as screen time for children below two years has remained almost constant.

Advice for Parents

Based on the findings, it is advisable for parents to be mindful of their toddler's screen time, and specifically, television exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children aged 18 months to 5 years should have no more than one hour of high-quality screen time per day, supervised by an adult. Additionally, parents can engage their toddlers in activities like outdoor play or interactive learning to promote healthy development and reduce the risk of potential attention problems later in life.

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Research has linked watching a lot of television during the toddler years with later attention problems. How common is this practice? Has this increased or decreased in recent years? What advice do you have, given these findings, for parents of toddlers?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Introduction and Context

Research on Television and Attention Problems

Prevalence of the Practice

Trends Over Recent Years

Advice for Parents

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