Children under 2 years of age should not watch television or videos, a group of pediatricians recommended Tuesday.
Doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference in Boston said parents should engage babies instead of putting them in front of the television. This is the first time in more than a decade that the group has issued guidelines for child rearing.
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“Media – both foreground and background – have potentially negative effects and no known positive effects for children younger than 2 years,” the new guidelines said. “Thus the A.A.P. reaffirms its recommendation to discourage media use in this age group.”
The recommendation does not prohibit the use of interactive media like video games but programs watched passively on television and computers.
The group said even educational videos have no benefit to children under 2 because they are too young to understand the images on the screen. Parents should instead talk to their children and encourage independent play.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
