For Kids Under Two, Steer Clear of Screen Time, Pediatricians Say

Parents should strictly limit how much children under two years old watch television or videos, says the American Academy of Pediatrics in a new policy statement, since TV time not only doesn't seem to benefit babies, it may come with developmental drawbacks. (Activities like computer and touchscreen games, where the babies interact with what's happening on the screen rather than passively watch it, aren't included in the statement.) The academy issued a similar statement in 1999, discouraging screen time for kids less than 24 months old---and in the intervening decade, there's been more research to back up that recommendation. Time spent watching TV is, scientists point out, time away from the independent play known to be important for healthy cognitive development, and increased screen time is linked to developmental delays. But even if babies aren't simply sitting and watching a video, a TV or movie playing in the background---as one ...