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..
affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in... Read More
Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
Does your child pout, blame and brood? Does he gripe,... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
Who lives in your house? Are they driving you "crazy?"... Read More
Diagnosing children and teens with ADHD can be a challenge.... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Hints from Ruowen Wang? Keep a small basket filled with... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
There is no doubt that the benefits of being a... Read More
An Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that... Read More
I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More
Reading is the most important skill that a child must... Read More
The subject of competition is one that provokes some pretty... Read More
Here's a scene: A parent "might suddenly grab a happliy... Read More
Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More
It's the first day of the summer holiday. Five year-old... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..As our children grow, they will be going to schools... Read More
Childhood friendships are as special as they are a necessary... Read More
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More
Recess has begun disappearing in states all around the country.... Read More
In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
I don't know how people raise daughters because I have... Read More
Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More
Nanny 911 Interview with Montel WilliamsI saw an interview with... Read More
As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
How often do you think of family life as an... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
Are you considering a car wash fundraiser for your group?... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent or teacher more... Read More
If you spend any time in the parenting section of... Read More
What do you do when your child begins talking to... Read More
Predicament:My son is 4 1/2 years old. His younger brother... Read More
Joey steps away from his time out chair "I won't... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More
Parenting |