Can television be beneficial to children?
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RealAge answered:For children who are three or four years old, watching an hour or two of high-quality educational programming each day -- such as Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, and Sesame Street is perfectly fine. Research has even shown that watching educational programs can improve reading and math skills in preschoolers.
However, please don’t use this as an excuse to park your child in front of the TV for hours! Many parents do. It’s understandable, especially during a stressful day. I’ve been there. The TV is so close, and you don’t have to pay it $9 an hour to amuse your kids. However, any interaction your child has with another human being -- reading together, playing a board game or ball game, dressing up dolls, anything -- is almost always better for your child than watching TV.
From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, an...
For children who are three or four years old, watching an hour or two of high-quality educational programming each day -- such as Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, and Sesame Street is perfectly fine. Research has even shown that watching... More
