I'm like butta cause I'm on a roll...

I am blown away! Did you know that researchers all over the world are studying the effects of television on children? Oh you don't believe me? Ok well check this out!

In this magazine called "Mothering" I found an article by Christine L. Pollock about France! In "France Bans TV Shows Aimed at Children Under 3," Pollock writes about a new law that forces cable network operators in France to run a warning message for parents with foreign language channels. This law was created because shows like the US-based "BabyFirstTV" that are meant for babies 6 months to three years of age, are actually harmful to a child's development. Researchers in France have found that exposure to television as an infant slows the brain development and also turns TV into babysitters. Ok, here is where the US comes in...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children younger than two years old should not watch TV.

So that was France, I love their croissants (said with French accent). Now, let's travel back over to this side of the world and learn about Canada's new studies in TV shows for kids. In The Montreal Gazette, Shannon Proud discusses the importance of playing without the TV on in her journal entry, "TV Distracts Young Children." She believes that a child must discover their imagination and creativity on his own. I like that! I remember spending hours in a box using my imagination and exploring new worlds and creating new creatures to fight and befriend. Her concerns are centered around television interrupting play time and causing attention problems later in their lives. In fact, she even calls it a "significant environmental hazard."

Both these articles are going to give great insight into what parents are concerned about in other countries. These articles are a bit short so the information aspect of the piece will be what I focus on more than their personal opinions. I have other longer journal entries that give a more detailed analysis of how television affects childhood development.

Oh and HEY! I found some informative books in my neighborhood library:

"Early Childhood Television Viewing and Adolescent Behavior: The Recontact Study" by Reed Larson and "Television and Child Development" by Judith Page Van Evra.

How perfect are these?!? My research topic is right there in the title: Television and Child Development! Alright folks, there is no going back now. FULL SPEED AHEAD!