Into the Minds of Babes: How Screen Time Affects Children from Birth to Age Five

This is an engaging and elucidating examination of how exposure to television and other 'screen time' affects the development of babies and toddlers. As a mother, Lisa Guernsey began to wonder about her use of TV with her two young daughters. As a reporter, she began investigating what the current dialogue was saying - and what she found was a confusion of research, advice, and a rather draconian mandate from the American Association of Pediatricians which recommended NO television at all before the age of two! Advocating a nuanced, informed approach to TV viewing and focusing on the 0-4 age group, the age when language is most rapidly being acquired, Guernsey has tackled existing information. Not just anecdotal, but referenced and laden with exploration of existing research - Guernsey delves beyond the headlines, looking into the worth of the research itself, making her findings clear and riveting for any concerned parents. She considers how individual children's needs differ, and concludes that each parent must do what is best for their child and their family, keeping in mind content, moderation and parent control.For the parent who thirsts for more information than the extremes: no TV until after 2 years versus the abundance of 'educational' programming for all ages, this book is a must-read, allaying guilt and placing control firmly back in the hands of parents.