Few infant/mom interactions during TV
Published: May 6, 2008 at 9:16 PM
NEW YORK, May 6 (UPI) -- Infants exposed to television and video in poor homes tend to have limited verbal interactions with their mothers, a U.S. study indicates.
The study, published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, suggests the use of educational programming alone does not promote co-viewing -- having both mother and child view programming together.
Dr. Alan L. Mendelsohn of the New York University School of Medicine says the conclusions are particularly significant because parent-infant interactions have a major impact on early child development, as well as success in school advancement and adolescence in general.
Ninety-seven percent of mothers with 6-month-old children reported their infants were exposed to television or radio at the median rate of two hours a day.
"Our concern is that parents may still perceive educational programming as enough of a reason to park their infants in front of the television, instead of co-viewing and interacting with their infants," Mendelsohn says in a statement. "Passive viewing does not lead to interaction between infant and mother."
The study, published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, suggests the use of educational programming alone does not promote co-viewing -- having both mother and child view programming together.
Dr. Alan L. Mendelsohn of the New York University School of Medicine says the conclusions are particularly significant because parent-infant interactions have a major impact on early child development, as well as success in school advancement and adolescence in general.
Ninety-seven percent of mothers with 6-month-old children reported their infants were exposed to television or radio at the median rate of two hours a day.
"Our concern is that parents may still perceive educational programming as enough of a reason to park their infants in front of the television, instead of co-viewing and interacting with their infants," Mendelsohn says in a statement. "Passive viewing does not lead to interaction between infant and mother."
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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