Smart Babies Don't Watch TV!

Watching Baby Einstein does not a baby Einstein make. A new study reported on CNN confirms what many pediatricians have been saying all along—TV viewing for kids under age 2 does nothing to enhance their brains. The new study finds that while watching TV doesn’t doesn’t hurt their I.Q, it also doesn’t help them.

It’s tough news for parents like me, who have resorted to putting our kids in front of the TV when we needed to get something done—like make a meal. (What other options do parents sometimes have when we’re in a hurry?) Yes, I’ll admit I was given a Baby Einstein tape and have used it. I even felt good about letting my tot watch it, which seems to be the main benefit of these types of videos, according to critics.

So far it seems that free, unstructured play is a winning solution to build kids’ brains. Give them construction blocks, and other toys that put their imaginations to work. In my house, any kind of box is a hot item for my young son, who uses it for all sorts of reasons.

According to the co-author of the new study from the Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School, if you want to stimulate the brains of the under two crowd, try reading, singing, interacting and stacking blocks.

I’d like to add another great idea—take your kid outdoors to play. Obviously, if your child is a tot, you’ll need to tag along and won’t get your meal made, but consider the benefits to your child. Unstructured outdoor play provides exercise, reduces stress, builds imagination and even has been shown to increase a kid’s immune system and reduce the symptoms of ADD and ADHD. For details, read Taking on the Outdoors.

Encouraging your child to play outside rather than watch TV is especially important because other studies have shown that a lot of TV viewing can put kids at risk for some things like obesity, sleep disturbances and possibly attention problems.

Sometimes, my son just wants to watch TV and can’t be persuaded otherwise, but lately, he’s excited to get outside. Why? He and the neighborhood kids have been digging an enormous hole in my backyard. My son says it’s going to be their hideout, but right now it’s just a soggy hole of clay, after our recent snow storm. My husband—who mows the lawn—is not thrilled, but digging is keeping the kids busy as they try to make the hole grow every day.

If you need some time to yourself and want to give your child the benefits of playing in nature, you might consider a camp. The Triangle offers many options, and now the time to sign up for summer. Visit Carolina Parent’s Online Camp Directory.