Can babies benefit from the multitude of DVDs and TV shows now being designed for them?
Several research studies suggest that media and babies don’t mix. Here’s a look at why. Long-Term Impact Too much time spent in front of electronic screens before the age of 3 (and later in childhood as well) may have negative effects on children’s learning and health through adolescence, according to researchers. While the latest technology and educational programming have much to offer, child-development experts say we have little understanding of how viewing life on a screen affects the youngest children, and no research supports the idea that electronic games and programs for babies promote learning. Since 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended no screen time at all for babies younger than 2 years old. The Human Touch Crucial brain growth and development occurs during the first two years of life. That brain development is guided by a baby’s environment, and is shaped by talking, touching, listening, tasting and other sensory experiences. Researchers have explored
