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..
no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
The subject of competition is one that provokes some pretty... Read More
Uh oh.Your kids arrive home with their school reports and... Read More
Love, love, love. It makes the world go round. It... Read More
Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that... Read More
One of the few decisions you'll make during pregnancy that... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
Choosing a good car seat for your child's protection is... Read More
Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
I was reading "A Modern Infant Armada", a humor column... Read More
You need to smart to be able influence adolescents. You... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
We're all familiar with the over-indulgent parent. But there's another... Read More
Childhood friendships are as special as they are a necessary... Read More
1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
Optimists do better academically, socially and enjoy better health than... Read More
One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Lake Forest ..Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Jason Roberts listened to his son's explanation of the missing... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More
We know that ancient cultures and Indians and the like... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
Yesterday my husband Wade took the day off (that's one... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
When you think about it, probably the one thing that... Read More
Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
It's the first day of the summer holiday. Five year-old... Read More
Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its... Read More
When it comes to exams, or indeed any academic work,... Read More
Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More
Throughout the year, many days of celebration are tucked capriciously... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
More and more kids these days are diagnosed ADD, ADHD,... Read More
Parenting |