Del Norte Child Care Council Newsletter Articles

Healthy TV Facts for Preschoolers

The television is a piece of technology that, by itself, is neither good nor bad for children. Whether or not it becomes a problem, depends on how we use it. These helpful hints may change your children's television habits. Evaluate the programs by asking yourself one simple question, "Is this program making my job as a parent harder or easier?" You can make the TV your ally by choosing programs that reinforce rather than undermine what you are trying to do. One way to test if a television program is appropriate for preschoolers is to watch with the sound off. Preschoolers don't have the language capabilities to follow normal dialogue (like the script of a soap opera). Very young children take away from the screen only what they see not what they hear. It can be a mistake to stop your child from viewing a program if their behavior seems regressive while viewing the program. For example your child may be capable of using full words but begins imitating Teletubbies and shows regressive language behavior. Children regress when they are stressed and if you take away the Teletubbies, you take away their source of comfort. In such a case, blaming TV blinds us to the real issues that need to be addressed. In conclusion, by making good viewing choices, sharing with children the vocabulary and making sure TV is part of a balanced and healthy routine, we can give children essential skills for modern life.