TV Talk Not For Toddlers
When it comes to teaching children language, it seems that Elmo has a slight advantage over Po.
“The idea that television can help teach young children their first words is a parent’s dream, but one not supported by this research,” says Marina Krcmar, associate professor of communication at Wake Forest and author about a study (see today’s Science Daily) which has found that (somehow one is not too surprised?) toddlers learn their first words better from humans than from Teletubbies. Krcmar notes that “‘We have known for years that children ages 3 and older can learn from programs like ‘Sesame Street,’” but it seems that TV watching for children under the age of 2 does not assist in building vocabulary.
Might this study be seen as further evidence for the infamous “TV causes autism thesis?
Charlie is ten now and stopped watching PBS Kids a long time ago (to be honest, he does not watch a lot of TV, by his own preference). But two songs that he likes to hear on his iPod are “Ships” (from a certain Teletubbies computer-generated sequence, to the tune of “I Saw Three Ships”) and “Row Row Your Boats” as sung by the red monster atop Snuffalufagus.
Since he has yet to master using the click wheel on the iPod or reading the names of the songs, when he wants to hear something in particular, he turns to me, and talks.
6 opinions for TV Talk Not For Toddlers
Leila
Jul 3, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Well, my autistic son learnt a lot of words and concepts as a toddler from Sesame Street and Baby Einstein videos, including letters, numbers and colors, and even musical instruments. I can’t tell if he’s learnt more from TV or from people; I think he learns more easily when he’s interested in the subject or game, and where there’s an emotional tone/meaning on the words we say.
Lolasmom
Jul 3, 2007 at 3:03 pm
We’ve had some vocabulary success with Baby Bumblebee word videos (’tho Lola was nearly 3 when we started). More than vocabulary, I think Lola’s love of movies (and now some preschool shows) has helped her learn and practice various social skills. She has become so interactive when she watches them now, tugging at me to watch them with her, insisting that I comment or react appropriately (laugh, gasp, sing, etc.) at certain parts. That is never a bad thing in my book. :)
mcewen
Jul 3, 2007 at 3:45 pm
If my children talked like Elmo, I’d go nutty with that high pitched voice, give me the Telly tubbies anyday, there again there’s a lot to be said for Boobah!
cheers
George Wade
Jul 3, 2007 at 4:36 pm
That ties in with research from a Washington State Education researcher who tells us that we can learn the sounds of a language from 0 to 12 months; remembering them (for life?) from 6 to 12 months: from a human but not from TV.
KimJ
Jul 3, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Well, my son didn’t even start talking in any words until 2 1/2, when he started to watch the Teletubbies (and I’d repeat them). He was very affected by them and learned to ask 2-word questions and say greetings. He couldn’t understand or tolerate Sesame Street until 3 1/2 or 4 years.
The original Baby Einstein videos and cds helped develop his echolalia but no “meaningful” communication. That is, he didn’t express needs or wants with what he repeated. I do think he learned many important things from them.
Perhaps the Teletubbies don’t affect infants but they seem to help delayed toddlers that identify with their “babyness”.
Danni
Jul 4, 2007 at 3:51 pm
A lot of Sammie’s vocabulary came from television, especially Fifi and the Flowertots and Peppa Pig (both British shows, if you’ve never heard of them). She still loves both, and we read a Teletubbies book together earlier today, with Sammie providing the Teletubbies voices :)
(BTW: I was really into the Teletubbies when they first were broadcast in 1997. I was 10/11 then :) )
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