More on Media and the Very Young

Last post I referred to a Kaiser Family Foundation study which makes clear that TV and media are over-used in most American homes. More on that report today.

The research showed that an over-reliance on TV time is due in part to homes where TVs are on all the time, and homes that allow TVs in children's bedrooms.

But the report also said parents cite benefits of their young children watching programming. Parents told Kaiser that allowing TVs in the children's bedrooms lets kids watch their own programs; avoid fights with siblings; stay occupied so parents can do things around the house; and help fall asleep.

Parents also said they use TV to reward good behavior, and just more than half reported TV tends to calm their children down.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has urged no screen time at all for kids under 2, and no more than 2 hours a day for those 2 and older.

Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a psychiatrist who has written several books about children, warned that TV and media is wrong for youngsters and said...passive involvement with media is detrimental to children's development.

Now I don't know how kids with autistic spectrum disorders react to TV, nor am I aware of any studies about the benefits or detriments of TV time for autistic children. Perhaps you do?

Regardless, anecdotally it seems that our son's hyper-focus and love of routine is fed in a good way by select TV viewing. He finds some comfort and entertainment in repeatedly viewing appropriate kids videos. truth be told, the big benefit of that TV time is for Mom! When he is watching those videos or shows she has a bit of a break. He is so very intense in his needs, and she finds a breather in that hour. She tends to the other kids in the family, or to the bills, or makes phone calls.

As noted last time, we are relying on the TV more than we ever did for the older children, but at this stage in life, it seems appropriate. And very, very necessary.