There are millions of young children in this country who are being terribly mistreated by their parents.
These parents aren't physically abusing their young children, and they may not even know that they're mistreating them.
The mistreatment?
Millions of kids under the age of two are watching TV in this country. In fact, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation of over 1,000 parents, about 65% of kids under age two are watching TV, and they're averaging over two hours of watching a day.
They're watching even though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for kids under age two. They're watching even though this is a crucial period for their cognitive development, at an age when their brains are still being formed.
And the news for these kids just got worse.
Scientists at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle who studied over 2,500 children found a link between early TV watching and attention problems at a later age.
Specifically, the chances of one and three-year-old kids developing attention problems at age seven increased by 10% for every hour of TV watched each day.
The information from these two studies creates a chilling picture of what's happening to millions of toddlers in this country. It's unfair, immoral, and unjust, and it needs to be addressed.
But you won't see an outcry from the mass media giants in this country. You see, we live in the country where "Why TV is Good for Kids" appeared as the cover story in Newsweek Magazine in 2002. The same Newsweek Magazine that's owned by the Washington Post Company, which owns a sprawling cable company and six broadcast stations around the country.
No, you won't hear too much about these important studies from the Time-Warners of the world. Bad for business, you see.
But if you're the parent of a young child, you need to know this information.
There are about nine million children who take prescription medication for ADHD in this country. The number of kids who take ADHD medication has been doubling every two years. And while TV certainly isn't the culprit in all of these cases, the link between the number of attention problems and the amount of TV watched is undeniable.
The days of the "harmless" argument for TV and kids needs to be put to rest. Parents need to be educated about the very real possibility of causing future attention problems with their kids.
And young kids across this country need to be given a fighting chance.
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches busy parents by phone to balance their life and improve their family relationships. For a FREE twenty minute sample session by phone; ebooks, courses, articles, and a FREE newsletter, go to http://www.markbrandenburg.com. or email him at http://www.markbrandenburg.com..
green cleaning service Glencoe ..It is not the divorce but the conflict arising after... Read More
Do you have a wild child? Then this article may... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Sitting by her Pinocchio lamp, she smiled at me as... Read More
It happens every year. Just when you are settled in... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More
My kids just can't get enough of playing games with... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Q. When you consult with a family with teens, what... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
"Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
How bad is the illegal drug problem here in the... Read More
It was a hot summer day in august and The... Read More
The 'phone conversation had nothing at all to do with... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
"It takes a village to raise a child" is more... Read More
house cleaning company Bannockburn ..Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for... Read More
Elana, born in Russia, was told "We really don't know... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
"Just turn the lights off and go to sleep"Do you... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain... Read More
It's sometimes difficult to find ways to be involved with... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
All children will likely have many different health problems during... Read More
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
Ritalin has been shown through the years to be very... Read More
Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made.... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
One of the most prevalent myths of our modern culture... Read More
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
If there are any parents reading this who are thinking... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Parenting |