Literacy news

Is TV delaying child development?

2 Jun 2009

This study, conducted by Dimitri Christakis from the University of Washington, found that when the TV was audible - either on in the background or being watched - the volume of words spoken and sounds made by either adult or child reduced considerably. Every hour the television was on parents said between 500 and 1,000 fewer words to their children. The report states that "these results may explain the association between infant television exposure and delayed language development."

300 children aged between two months and four years were recorded by the research team on several days every month over two years. The study does not differentiate between TV being watched or background TV or examine the kind of programmes that were on. It did find that overall, adults barely spoke to children when the TV was audible.

Liz Attenborough, director of Talk To Your Baby at the UK's National Literacy Trust, agrees that the permanent presence of the TV in the background is something parents should try to reduce. She said, "Even if you think you're not paying attention to it, you probably are - and this may well interfere with how much you speak with to your child. The TV shouldn't be on all the time.

"But we are lucky to have some high-quality children's programmes in the UK. They are usually well thought-out, often featuring a clear, single voice, and incite children to make responses," she said.

"Of course we need to be aware of the problems TV can pose, but equally we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Read more about the research

(BBC News, 2 June 2009)

Tags: Children, Talk To Your Baby, The home

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