Researchers
Dimitri A. Christakis, Michelle M. Garrison and Rupin
R. Thakkar, MD, of the Child Health Institute, conducted
a systematic literature search and identified a total
of 376 articles dealing with children and television.
Of these, 12 met the criteria of being a controlled
trial. The 12 studies were conducted between 1973
and 2000 and focused specifically on television content
viewed by children under age six and its impact on
learning, racial preference, aggression, pro-social
behaviour, self-regulation and imagination. None of
these studies looked at infant television viewing
or examined the content of videos designed for
children.
The
research found that there is evidence to suggest that
educational television programs, such as Sesame
Street and Mister Rogers can aid in the
acquisition of general knowledge plus improve overall
cognitive knowledge among young children.
There
is also evidence in the literature
that children's imaginative play can be positively
affected by television content. Furthermore, there
is evidence that educational television programming
that emphasizes diversity can improve children's racial
attitudes.
On
the negative side, there is evidence that television
viewing can increase a child's display of aggression.
Children who watch aggressive programmes and cartoons
with lots of violence can be more likely to engage
in
aggressive behavior than those that do not.
Dr.
Christakis says, "The bottom line is that content
is key -- high-quality educational programming can
have a positive effect on children under age six.
However, much more research is needed. It was disappointing
that there are so few rigorous controlled trials of
something that is so important and so prevalent."
The study's researchers also stress the importance
of AAP recommendations that parents avoid letting
their children under age 2 watch television and that
parents exert caution -- such as setting limits on
TV viewing, helping children develop media literacy
skills to questions, analyze and evaluate TV messages,
and taking an active role in their children's TV viewing
-- for children over age 2.
