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Turn off the TV, turn on the conversation

August 3, 2009

Talk with your kids, but please turn the TV off first. Researchers at the University of Washington Medical School equipped 300 children, ages 2 to 48 months, with tape recorders that soaked up everything the children heard and said during the day. The recorders were worn one day per month for up to two years.

Each hour a TV was on, children heard 770 fewer words from an adult (a 7% decrease), and they spoke less themselves, according to a story in the New York Times (6/16/09). The researchers link the decrease in communication to the fact that adults often use the TV to entertain children, and even when adults are in the room, they get distracted by the TV and interact less with the children present.

While the study focused on toddlers, I suspect the findings would carry over for older children, or worsen, since older children get more engrossed in story lines and TV-related activities like Playstation and Wii.

TV can be a good teaching tool when parents and children watch together and discuss the messages in ads and programs — my girls got so used to me pointing out sexist stereotypes and careless social behavior that they started beating me to the punch by the time they were in fifth grade.

If you want to discuss another topic, though, turn off the TV and turn your complete attention to your child. You’ll build a young child’s verbal skills, and you’ll build trust when you both focus on having quality conversations. That will establish a pattern of communication that will make increasingly sensitive conversations about sexuality easier.

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Written by MDavis · Filed Under Buzz on the Birds and Bees

What’s your question or concern about children, teens and sexuality? Drop me a line or make a comment, and I’ll address it. You may also find answers in my book, Sexuality Talking Points, or purchase a private phone or in-person consultation. See the Product page to order.