Some links for your Thursday afternoon:
Though I’m not sure I think France should have the ability to ban TV programs for children under age 3 (because with that, everybody should be allowed to make their own decisions whether or not to let their under 3-year-old child to watch it), I absolutely commend them for drawing attention to the negative impacts TV can have on a developing child.
I read on one site the writer lamenting this decision by France, stating that her child had been watching TV since he was 8 months old and had learned to talk better by watching it, as well as sing and dance. Study after study have shown that a TV show, even something as praised as Baby Einstein, does NOT help your child learn to talk! Instead, it hinders their speech development and brain growth in so many other ways.
I completely understand that it’s necessary sometimes to let a small child watch a video or short TV show just for parental (or nanny) sanity 
but I do NOT let my kids watch TV for extended periods of time. Even though it’s more work on my part, I much prefer to interact with them myself, rather than plunking them down in front of an ‘electronic babysitter.’ Especially for children under 18 months old–this is a crucial time in a child’s development. Why let a TV teach (or even supplement teaching) your child?
I hope I didn’t offend anyone–but this is something I believe strongly about! I’d be happy to talk with anybody about it.
- The Nanny on
I’m honored to be included here Kate, thank you ever so much. If you need anything, like say me tattooing your name on my butt, just let me know. I also make a pretty good hummus.
- Mom101 on
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