Letters to the Editor
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I think TV makes adhd worse
Now, my brother had Kanner's Syndrome (classical autistm with PDD-NOS- NOT Asperberger's. Think a low functioning Rainman). I noticed his hyperactivity got worse when he watched too much TV, and he loved repetitive TV (game shows, etc). Too much radio also seemed to overstimulate him. I think TV may be attractive to ADHD kids because of the flashing lights, etc. I also think the lights overstimulate them, and there was a theory about stimulants making ADHD kids focus better. SO for ADHD kids, TV may help them focus, but it will also rev up their activity level.
FOr non-ADHD kids, I just do not believe TV does not replace outdoor activity or impact obesity. I've seen that link in action, and the several studies that showed the link between lowered activity from TV watching and obesity were very well done. I've also seen my own child enter another zone where he literally can not hear me when he watches TV (I turn it off regularly so he can get things done).
Ironically, I just had this fight with my mother. She swears TV is good for babies (especially game shows. What is it with elderly people and that damn Game Show network). I told her background TV is bad for language development. Guess who will be getting an I told you so?
Bottom line is that I don't think it should be used for kids under 2. In my experience, most of the time with an under 2, the TV is on as company for the caregiver NOT the child. I have a 4 month old and no Baby Einstein video would hold her attention for 30 minutes. After the way my older child zoomed in on Teletubbies just once (serious zombie child) at age 1, I banned it forever in my house. I still joke that it could have been brainwashing kids to go kill their parents in their sleep. The real reason is that something that stops a young child so completely and shuts them down like that just can not be good for them.
I occupy my baby without TV. I think it's the big babies (parents and caregivers) who can't live without it.