PUBLIC MOVES

Even infants and toddlers have been swept up by popular TV shows, toddler video and Babies TV marketed as “educational” programming. Television is a passive activity that does not provide two-way interaction or response, both of which are critical to young children. In order to learn nuances of language, how to relate to others and to develop social skills, there must be an active give and take. Children are learning from birth, and anything that piques their curiosity can help them learn new things from baby university. If there is a program or video with quality music, colorful images, and good ideas, and a parent watches and interacts with the child during the program, then it can be a positive experience. Television, like any other technology, is a tool. There is always a concern when children are left unattended with a television, especially at such a young age when they really need ongoing exchanges with other people. They need to be responsive and to learn from other people’s responses to them. Television just cannot fulfill those needs.