Toddler TV Habits Tied to Attention Deficit

[Amethyst Rose]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=4LGHTTA5VLYXSCRBAEZSFFA?type=healthNews&storyID=4749975

The more television children watch between the ages of 1 and 3, the greater their risk of having attention problems at age 7, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

They found that each hour of television that preschoolers watched per day increased the risk of attention problems such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, by almost 10 percent later on.

[Faeawyn]

Hmmmm....Both of my children were raised watching Sesame Street, Mister rogers, and Nickelodeon all morning long....hours of watching. They're both honor role kids with very mild mannered personalities....so I'm not sure I can agree with that statistic.

[Ben Trismegistus]

In my opinion, the flaw in the study is that they fail to take into account the *quality* of the television. Joey watches nothing but PBS Kids -- Sesame Street, Clifford, Arthur, Between the Lions, etc. There's a marked difference between the quality and speed of those shows and other television. I've looked at some of the cartoons on commercial television, and they're much flashier and quick-moving, which I imagine would be more likely to bring on ADD.

[LittleRhiannon]

I dunno. I didn't spend all my time watching TV when I was that young, but I did watch a lot of movies and morning cartoons, and I don't have ADD.

I agree with Ben, it's the quality of these shows. The shows I used to watch, seasame street, fairy tale theatre, ect., were pretty good, educational shows. Some of the stuff that they have now...well... :sick:

It's like they're encouraging kids to be stupid!

[menolly]

My TV's on almost all the time in the background, but I've noticed my son prefers the cartoons for older kids than ones aimed at toddlers.
He prefers to watch movies to cartoons though - he loves the Harry Potter films, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo! And he loves to watch the ice hockey!
I don't know what any of this means, but it'll be interesting to find out.

[Amethyst Rose]

Quintin also loves hockey! He also really likes science fiction....likes Star Gate SG-1 and Star Trek. I discovered the other day that he likes Fantasia (2000), but otherwise, he also prefers cartoons aimed at older kids. He gets bored with the cartoons for toddlers.

[Tzhebee]

Ya know, I think they should do a study on kids (especially Toddler) Toys rather than TV. Going through Walmart the other day looking for something for my 9 month old...everything was quick flashy lights with a 3 second jingle that repeated 5 times.

It hurt my head to keep up with some of these "approved 9 mo and up" toys. Geez.

I know, kinda OT, but I think you get my point. :)

[Moon Momma]

I have the hardest time finding good quality toys for my 18 month old! You're right, everything has all of these bells and lights and voices that say the say thing over and over. Her favorite toy right now is her doll stroller and her baby dolls. Thank Goddess she actually uses her imagination!
She's too young for TV right now, she'll sit and watch it for like 5 minutes before she decides to get up and go play. Except for Boobahs. She sits there and watches the whole 20 minutes of that show.

[Vampy]

I dont beleave that, I mean if ur a parent then you know that it is not true, well at least I do, b/c my ADD and ADHD is a genetic disorder, not one that can just happen, now I can understand if it made them more restless, and they bore easily b/c there is not constant action, but not Attention Deficit my boys are ADHD like I was when I was little and I still am, and they watch sooo little TV that it isn't even funny, they prefer to be outside, running, playing, swimming, and having a good time than to being inside all day, cooped up and tied to something (Which is why having so much land comes in handy) but like I said I am one of the sceptical people of that.

Forever Yours,