Seriously??? Babies and TV

Ok...no...seriously???

So apparently there is an appliance in your home that if you allow your young baby to be around it...I mean even in the vicinity of this appliance it will fry your baby's brain. No, its not the oven, or the refrigerator, or even the microwave. It's the television. At least this is what all the studies and the American government would like for you to know.

It amazes me that "they" as in "the powers that be" will continually reinforce the "obvious fact" that tv CANNOT make your baby smarter but at the same time they will constantly reitirate that it will make your children dumb. Huh???!!! Now, I'm confused, how exactly does that work???

They have done supposed study after study on the negative effects that television has on babies but I question how far these studies have actually gone. I mean, do they account for the amount of socializing the parents or other family members actually spend with the baby, regardless of whether the tv is on or not. Or how about the time spent reading to the child each day? Or time spent out and about in the world?

I am also interested in knowing how many studies have focused on the potentially positive effects that television could have on babies, if used in the proper way. For example, I have BabyFirstTV channel and we record !Hola Bebe! episodes for her and play them everyday. We keep it on pretty much all day, when we are in the house, just for background noise. Occasionally, BabyGirl will stop and stare at the tv because of all the colors and noises, etc., not because she is truly interested in what is going on on the tv. She still prefers the human interaction that all these studies so ferverently point out that she needs. No matter what is on the tv my daughter will completely stop looking at the tv and turn towards me and smile when she hears my voice.  Which, in turn, makes me smile and talk to her even more...We read to her everyday and interact with her ALL DAY, she wouldn't have it any other way. We often even talk to her about what's happening on the tv.

BabyGirl was rolling over, both ways, at 7 weeks old, she has been scooting since about 12 weeks, she is very observant (nosey even...lol), she is very aware of her surroundings and she loves interacting with people. I don't believe that tv has stunted her growth or development in any way.

Now I don't prepose that watching tv will make your baby any smarter but I'm still not of the belief that it will make them any less smart or less interested in the world around them. I believe the television could be properly used as another tool in helping you to teach your baby about the outside world. I don't think the television, as any other tool, is inherently good or bad. Its what you do with it that makes the difference.

What do you think lovely people??? Is the television the downfall of childhood brilliance??? Let me know what you think...

Love ya much,

Mo