As a parent, we look for the best daycare environment we can for our children. One where they are encouraged to experiment with new things, learn social skills, participate in imaginative play, and learn the basic fundamentals, such as ABC's and writing. We don't expect to pay for them to sit in front of a TV several hours a day.
You may be surprised at how much TV time your child is getting at daycare, if there are no guidelines in their curriculum.
A new study released on Monday reports that preschoolers may be spending as many as two hours a day in front of a TV.
The figures came from a telephone survey of 168 licensed childcare programs in Michigan, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts. Just because the survey was not local, does not mean it is not happening right here in Sacramento or any other city for that matter.
If you add this on top of the TV time children have at home, they could be watching up to four or more hours of TV a day!
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages any television time for children under age two and 1 to 2 hours of quality TV programs for age two and over.
You may have recently heard of the The Baby Einstein™ DVD Upgrade / Moneyback Guarantee allowing consumers to return DVD's due to the AAP's recommended guidelines. The Disney company is actually allowing consumers to return up to four used DVD's per household in return for cold hard cash.
Of the childcare programs surveyed, 70% were home-based child cares and 36% centers, stating they allowed children to watch TV daily.
That is not what a parent is paying for!
Do you know your daycare's TV policy? If the children are allowed to watch TV (including videos and DVD's), the time should be limited to less than an hour a day if you are also allowing them to do it at home.
I am strict about TV. My daycare center allows my daughter to watch a movie on Wednesday mornings and she gets another hour each day at home. I don't pay them to watch her in front of a TV.
If you find that your child is getting too much TV time when they should be learning, have a talk with the provider or center director. If they are not willing to work with you, maybe it is time to search for a new program.
Also, do you think about how much the TV is turned on in your home, even if the children are not watching their shows? The background noise from the TV can be very distracting for a child even if you don't notice.
For additional information and statistics on TV and your child's health, visit the Center on Media and Child Health website.
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