Today’s piece prepared by Jim Stier, MS4 comes from the ...



Today’s piece prepared by Jim Stier, MS4 comes from the New York Times article “Toddlers’ Favorite Toy: The iPhone”

Through anecdote, this article discusses the increasing role of iPhones in the lives of toddlers. The article as a whole demonstrates how easily children can be tamed during car rides or mollified during tantrums by youtube videos or a growing number of “Apps” targeted at preschoolers. Though some Apps are educational, the article points out that the devices distract young children from experiences that likely promote more developmentally appropriate learning in the form of interaction with people and external environments. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours daily of combined media exposure for children over 2 and none for children under 2 years. The article implies that the portability of iPhones and similar devices make them distinct from television and computers in terms of their potential to limit exposure to real-life experiences.

 

Pediatricians often counsel parents on limiting “screen time” for young children without considering cell phones. In reality, many children are now beginning to play with touch-screen mobile devices as toddlers, perhaps even earlier. Excessive television and computer use can be detrimental to a young child’s cognitive and physical development.2 Evidence also supports an association between cell phone use and cognitive difficulties in adolescents.3,4 While research investigating the developmental impact of portable multi-media device use by preschoolers is not yet published, clinicians can support the AAP guidelines and assist parents by providing access to the following resources.

Resources on Media and Early Childhood Development RESOURCES ON MEDIA & EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:

• The Center on Media and Child Health Comprehensive information source with a large collection of scholarly and non-scholarly articles on media’s impact on childhood health. 

• Active Bodies Active Minds Resource for care providers and families on being active and reducing screen time.

• Born Learning Excellent website primarily directed at parents that focuses on maximizing young childrens’ everyday learning experiences.

Reference citations:

• Policy Statement--Media Education. Pediatrics. 2010. Available at: [Accessed October 26, 2010].

• Straker LM, Pollock CM, Zubrick SR, Kurinczuk JJ. The association between information and communication technology exposure and physical activity, musculoskeletal and visual symptoms and socio-economic status in 5-year-olds. Child Care Health Dev. 2006;32(3):343-351.

• Abramson MJ, Benke GP, Dimitriadis C, et al. Mobile telephone use is associated with changes in cognitive function in young adolescents. Bioelectromagnetics. 2009;30(8):678-686.

• Thomas S, Benke G, Dimitriadis C, et al. Use of mobile phones and changes in cognitive function in adolescents. Occup Environ Med. 2010. Available at: [Accessed October 25, 2010].

And that’s today’s Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics: IN THE NEWS!

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download