Cot potatoes

It?s doubtful if BabyFirstTV, the world?s first 24x7 TV channel exclusively for infants, is exactly what the pediatrician would have ordered.

It’s doubtful if BabyFirstTV, the world’s first 24x7 TV channel exclusively for infants, is exactly what the pediatrician would have ordered. The channel premiered in the US last week and its promoters claim that it offers “completely safe, commercial-free and appropriate content” for viewers between six months and three years. The idea, they say, is for babies and parents to watch the channel’s infant-oriented programming together, so that the ‘interaction’ could help ‘children’s development’.

HT Image

New studies say that TV probably causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in pre-schoolers and that the more TV they watch, the greater the risk. Most experts agree that toddlers who watch TV face an increased risk of attention deficit problems by school age. The newborn brain develops very rapidly during the first two-three years of life and this is when it’s really being wired. Although infants begin to respond to emotional stimuli on TV by the age of 12 months, it isn’t just the content that is important. Instead, it has more to do with the unrealistically fast-paced visuals that dominate most TV programming, which could alter normal brain development. Add to this the established fact that too much of the tube is a proven factor in childhood obesity and aggression, and it’s easy to see why ratings for BabyFirst may not go through the roof.

In any case, it’s unfortunate that parents should turn to Barney or Boohbah to keep their children entertained. What happened to the pleasures of a glorious pram ride?