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Toddlers and TV: study shows early exposure has a negative and long-term impact

4 Jun 2010

A study conducted by the University of Montreal, The Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre and the University of Michigan found that for every additional hour of television which toddlers in the study were exposed to there was a decrease in their future classroom engagement, a greater likelihood of a more sedentary lifestyle, a higher consumption of junk food and a higher body mass index.

The study's goal was to determine the impact of television exposure at the age of two on future academic success, lifestyle choices and general well being of children. Dr Linda S. Pagani, the lead author of the study, says, "Between the ages of two and four, even incremental exposure to television delayed development."

Over a thousand children took part in the study, which was part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development Main Exposure.

According to the study, toddlers who watched too much television were forecast to have:

• a seven per cent decrease in classroom engagment.
• a six per cent decrease in maths achievement (with no harmful effects on later reading).
• a 10 per cent increase in victimisation by classmates.
• a 13 per cent decrease in weekend physical activity.
• a nine per cent decrease in general physical activity.
• a 10 per cent increase in snacks intake.
• a five per cent increase in BMI.

“Early childhood is a critical period for brain development and formation of behaviour,” warns Dr. Pagani. “High levels of TV consumption during this period can lead to future unhealthy habits. Despite clear recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggesting less than two hours of TV per day –after the age of two – parents show poor factual knowledge and awareness of such existing guidelines.

“Although we expected the impact of early TV viewing to disappear after seven and a half years of childhood, the fact that negative outcomes remained is quite daunting,” says Dr Pagani. “Our findings make a compelling public health argument against excessive TV viewing in early childhood and for parents to heed guidelines on TV exposure from the American Academy of Pediatrics’.”

Since this study suggests that TV exposure encourages a sedentary lifestyle, Dr Pagani says, television viewing must be curbed for toddlers to avoid the maintenance of passive mental and physical habits in later childhood: “Common sense would have it that TV exposure replaces time that could be spent engaging in other developmentally enriching activities and tasks which foster cognitive, behavioural and motor development.

“What's special about this study is how it confirms suspicions that have been out there and shown by smaller projects on one outcome or another. This study takes a comprehensive approach and considers many parental, paediatric and societal factors simultaneously,” she adds.

This research was funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

The article, Prospective Associations Between Early Childhood Television Exposure and Academic, Psychosocial, and Physical Well Being by Middle Childhood, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, was authored by Linda S. Pagani, Caroline Fitzpatrick and Tracie A. Barnett of the University of Montreal  and its affiliated Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center in Canada in collaboration with Eric Dubow of the University of Michigan in the United States.

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations) from materials provided by University of Montreal.

Tags: Early Years, Early years sector, Talk To Your Baby

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