More reason to read to your kids.

We all know how valuable story-telling sessions are. Reading to your young child is not just good for bonding and fun, it is also linked to better academic performance down the road. Now, researchers say reading is important for mastering language — particularly the English language.

Canadian researchers report that reading to kids is a crucial tool in English-language development, but not other languages.

The Canadian study, published in Learning and Instruction, found that a child learning to read English — an orthographically inconsistent language where letters can have more than one sound — need more help than a child learning to read in Greek — a language with one-to-one correspondence between a letter and its sounds.

“We have found that in English, you need a rich home literacy environment — reading lots of books to children,” study leader George Georgiou of University of Alberta in Edmonton said in a statement. “It’s absolutely necessary.” 

Lacking such support, English-speaking children run the risk of falling behind at least two years versus children learning to read in Greek, the researchers said.

Georgiou recommends English-speaking parents invest time in reading to their children or at least expose them to educational TV programs such as Sesame Street and multimedia tools such as spelling games.

Remember though, the multimedia tools and educational shows will only benefit children above the age of two. Before age three, reading and talking to your child is what’s best for developing language skills. Even month old babies can benefit from hearing books read to them.

How much TV is too much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has had a long-standing guideline on TV viewing for children. The AAP recommends no television for kids under age 2; and for kids 2 to 6 years old, television or computer time should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day.

In our house, we give our kids the two-hours per day media diet. Though admittedly, on weekends they get more screen time — since a movie is often one of our Saturday treats. My husband used to tell me the 2-hour a day rule was too stringent. To which I say, let’s take it from the experts.

Growing up, I think our own parents let us watch too much TV. It is easier to sit kids down in front of a TV or game console, I admit. But who knows how much longer our attention spans would be or how much more creative we would have become?

Dr. Michael Rich is Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at the Children’s Hospital in Boston. He has kids of his own and they don’t watch TV — at all.

Their kids do get to watch a carefully chosen movie every so often as a treat. They love movie time, but are ambivalent about TV. Dr. Rich explains, “my wife and I have provided our kids, who are 2 and 4, with a variety of options for imaginary play, creativity, and physical activity. Since my children don’t expect to watch TV, they never ask for it.”

To the Rich family, the no-TV-life has been completely doable. Dr. Rich points out that kids in the 50’s lived without television and they found ways to entertain themselves — in ways that were better for their development.

Also, he cites many studies that prove too much television doesn’t just shorten attention spans. Conspicuous television viewing among kids has been linked to problems ranging from obesity to bad behaviour.

As for educational videos for babies and toddlers, Dr. Rich agrees these won’t do your baby any good. Studies have proven, babies’ brains are not developed enough to learn from television or computer screens. In fact. Dr. Rich cautions, TV time can steal valuable learning opportunities for a young baby. Instead of having human interactions that develop his brain, he stagnates in front of a TV screen.

But television is not all bad. At a certain age, a little TV viewing can do your kids some good. Dr. Rich explains, “for children older than 2, some educational programs can help improve language skills. But it’s important to choose interactive shows, like Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues. These programs are designed by education experts who know exactly what developmental skills to focus on for every age, and they demand thoughtful responses from the young viewers. So the information isn’t just passively washing over a child. Also, age-appropriate, nonviolent video games can help kids learn about problem solving.”

Let it run wild!

My son runs around and spends hours at a time as Superman or a T Rex. Sometimes he is Michael Jackson or a member of super rock group Queen. My daughter has several costume changes throughout the day as she goes from cheerleader, to princess, to rock star. Laundry is more work than usual, but I give in because….

Kids are hardwired to be imaginative, and the fantasies start exploding when they reach the toddler years. If you have a toddler or preschooler at home, you may find yourself being invited into their make-believe world. Just the other day I was a client in my daughter’s hair salon! Starting age 2, a child’s imagination starts to evolve, along with the increasing ability for abstract thinking. Experts advice us to support this aspect of their development.

Give their budding imagination a little push by joining in the fun. If he invites you into his imaginary world… go! Getting in the act is a great way to see how his mind works. You will also be able to learn more about how he sees his world.

An active imagination is something to embrace. And it’s more than just cute, it’s a great way to foster your child’s intellectual, emotional and social development. Experts tell us, pretend play or imaginative play nurtures the following:

Good vocabulary. Those fantasy stories are expressed with words. Books and your own stories inspire scenarios in his mind – and he has to use the words he learns, to express his own unique ideas.

Self control. As your toddler or preschooler takes on a role, he gets to practice how to handle situations to achieve his own goals. To do this he needs to master self-motivation and self control.

Socialization. If he engages in imaginative play with others, he learns that he needs to do things like being nice and waiting his turn or help others so they can accomplish what they set out to do.

Problem solving. A study at Case Western Reserve University found that young children who are imaginative tend to remain so as they get older. These same kids become better problem solvers. Tested later in life, highly imaginative kids were more resourceful when it came to coping with challenges and difficult situations, such as what to do if they forgot to bring a book to school they needed that day.

So how do we nurture imagination? Talk to your kids, read to them, take them to new places and share new experiences. It would be good to expose them to the outdoors, music, museums and other people.

One thing to limit is television. Screen media provides passive stimulation, meaning it does the thinking and imagining for your child. A little quality, age-appropriate TV or movies is fine, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says these should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day.

You should also allow your child to get bored sometimes. Yes, boredom can be good! Sometimes, well-meaning parents think their kids have to be engaged and happy every waking hour. Kids need downtime from activity too. It allows for some reflective thinking and let’s them find ways to get themselves busy. Now that requires a lot of creativity!

Watch it! Television food temptations are bound to be unhealthy.

Tune in on Nickelodeon and pay close attention to the food ads. In case you haven’t already noticed, most of these ads targeted to kids are promoting unhealthy food choices. About 80 percent of food ads on the Nick TV channel feature foods of poor nutritional quality, according to a survey by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) based in Washington.

It’s another challenge to hurdle, trying to get your kids to eat oatmeal for breakfast when those Froot Loops and other sugary cereals look so good on TV!

The CSPI food advocacy group does note a slight improvement. Back in 2005, junk food ads accounted for 90 percent of promotional airtime. Today, ads promote slightly better food fare. The improvement stems from a food industry self-regulatory program undertaken through the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.

But to health advocates, there’s still a long way to go before television and food companies abate their contribution to the childhood obesity problem.

“While industry self-regulation is providing some useful benchmarks, it’s clearly not shielding children from junk food advertising, on Nick and elsewhere,” Margo G. Wootan, director of CSPI nutrition policy said in a statement. “It’s a modest start, but not sufficient to address children’s poor eating habits and the sky-high rates of childhood obesity.”

Under the self-regulatory program, 452 food and beverage products were listed as marketable to children – supposedly acceptable as healthy food choices. The CSPI sees it differently. Upon their own review, they found that 60 percent do not meet nutrition standards for children. Products that didn’t make the grade, but that are still being marketed on TV include:

• General Mills’ Cookie Crisp and Reese’s Puffs cereals
• Kellogg Apple Jacks and Cocoa Krispies cereals
• Kellogg Rice Krispies Treats
• Campbell’s Goldfish crackers Campbell’s SpaghettiOs,
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
• Unilever Popsicles

No brand of puddings, cookies or fruit-flavored snacks met CSPI’s nutrition standards.

How about food products that made the grade? 73 percent of yogurts did. Nabisco Teddy Grahams, Kellogs Frosted Mini-Wheats, Kellogs Eggo Waffles and some Kid Cuisine frozen dinners were also considered nutritionally acceptable.

So what’s a mom to do? There are days when my 3-year old wants her Cocoa Crunch… and I do give in. Bad mom! But I try to make myself feel a little better on Cocoa Crunch mornings by mixing in some bananas or strawberries (her favorite fruits) along with some Special K into bowl. I’m just extra thankful for those days when she’ll eat her oatmeal or eggs and toast!

Too much daytime/daycare TV?

A recent UPI report says children in home-based daycare centers watched television for an average 2.4 hours a day, while children in centers-based daycare watched for only 0.4 hours. That’s a big difference.

The study is worth looking into as majority of US preschoolers are typically in a day care situation. The findings are also worth considering if you are looking for quality daycare for your own child. And if your child already goes to daycare, do you know how much TV time she’s really getting?

Too much TV is not good for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no television for children below age 3. After age 3, they say children should only watch a maximum of two hours quality programming per day.

Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis, lead researcher and director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, looked at television use in 168 child-care programs in four states.

The study, to be published in this December issue of Pediatrics, found that among preschool-age children, those in home-based daycares watched TV for 2.4 hours per day on average, compared with 0.4 hours in center-based settings.

However, some home-based programs were closer to the center-based programs in amount of time they used television, particularly those programs in which the staff had college degrees.

If you are looking for quality daycare yourself, make it a point to visit your prospects. Check for proper accreditation. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs.

As the study has cited, the caregivers’ training and education does have significance. Caregivers with degrees and special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?

Here are other things to consider according to Child Care Aware:

• Adult to Child Ratio. How many children are there for each adult? The fewer the children for each adult, the better. Your child will get more attention and more quality time. The younger the child, the more crucial this is. Babies need and adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult, four infants maximum), 4-year-olds can do well in a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children.
• Group Size. Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller, the better. Imagine a group of 25 2-year-olds with five adults, compared with a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. But which would be a calmer, safer environment? Which would be more like family?

If your child is already in day care, the work isn’t over either. Check-in on the center once in awhile for a friendly visit. You and the caregiver are partners when it comes to your child’s development, so have regular meetings and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Now Showing: Your Preschooler at the Movies!

Is your little one ready for that first movie date? If he’s past the age of 3, then maybe he’s ready for the cinema experience – complete with dark theatre, big screen and popcorn.

I say maybe because all kids are different. Some children this age can already focus more than an hour for a movie. Some cannot. Some will be bothered or fearful of odd-looking characters. Some may be fascinated. Age is a rough guide really, as much of this first foray into the theatre will also depend on your child’s temperament, interests and quirks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children younger than 2. According to the AAP, at ages 2 to 6, children should be consuming no more than 2 hours of media a day. By media they mean screen time including TV, computers and movies.

Considering these basic AAP guidelines, it’s safe to say you can make that first trip to the cinema after age 3. If your child can watch a full-length children’s film at home, then he’s probably ready for the movie theater experience. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

For young children, “seeing is believing”.

It almost goes without saying, they are not the audience for scary, violent or disturbing films. To a preschooler, if that monster appears in a movie, it could  exist under his bed. Once they start watching films or television, it will be time to teach them the concept of real versus fantasy.

Be prepared though, as the lessons can go beyond what is make-believe and what isn’t. When my kids and I watched a Hallmark version of Alice in Wonderland, my 3-year-old was enthralled. My 5-year-old?  He was disturbed by the Mad Hatter’s seeming psychosis and the Queen with her commands of cutting people’s heads off. I asked him: “But is it real or fantasy?” His response: “Fantasy. But they’re still in my brain!”

Believing certain fantasies can also border on dangerous. For instance, if Superman can fly off a building, your 3-year-old may think he can do that too! This would be a teaching moment for explaining that movie characters can do things real people cannot. Add to that a lesson in safety – and maybe even gravity, if you’re inclined.

Like literature, film offers stories that are rich in life lessons – way beyond the basic lesson that seeing is not always believing. Take advantage.

Children are natural mimics.

They will often imitate what they see and hear. The more “interesting” the behavior, the more they may be inclined to imitate. As much as possible, impressionable preschoolers should be exposed to well-behaved characters. Of course, it is impossible – and also not ideal – to completely shield them from who and what ails our world. When movies show this, get ready to talk to your child about the character’s bad behavior, about how sad it was for the boy to lose his pet, or to be treated badly by a friend. When you engage your child about what’s going on, the movie can become an enriching experience.

Movie-dating in the preschool years.

Since you will be your child’s co-viewer for many years ahead, it’s good to know some relevant movie basics.

First, what do those movie ratings mean? G stands for general audiences, PG for parental guidance, PG-13 for parental guidance for kids 13 and older.

It is the MPAA or Motion Picture Academy of America that gives these movie ratings. Most of the time film industry people themselves make up the MPAA, so don’t just take it from them. Movies for preschoolers will fall under the G-rating, but this does not mean that all G-rated films will be appropriate for your little one.

Having the latest “it” toy doesn’t mean they can watch the movie either. Some cases in point are the live-action movies of Batman or Spiderman. Even if these get all the thumbs up from movie critics, they are just not right for young children. Imagine a 5-year-old meeting The Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger.

Choosing film fare for young children takes a bit of extra research. There are many good resources that can help. Common Sense Media is a non-stock, non-profit organization that rates media for the young. At their website, you can find age-by-age ratings and reviews of books, TV shows and movies.

Ready, set, watch!

So you’ve decided on that first film, and I’m guessing it’s something from Pixar or Disney. Now before you get tickets, here are a few practicalities.

Tell your child what to expect before getting to the theatre – it will be dark, there will be lots of other people watching with us, etc. With preschoolers, it always helps to set the stage for a new environment.

A matinee screening is a good choice as it fits in with your child’s post-nap or happy-and-alert time of the day. Matinee audiences are likely to have kids in tow like you, and will be more understanding if you have to whisper to your child as you try to contextualize parts of the movie. Expect mid-movie pee breaks, so get seats near the restrooms. Have popcorn and their favorite snacks on hand to keep them happy.

Most important, expect the unexpected and take your sense of humor along for whatever may happen. You are taking your preschooler for the first time into a movie theatre. To a 3-year-old who has never been there before, it could feel like entering a dark, cavernous place filled with strangers. Now that could end more interestingly than the movie itself!

The video may be called Baby Einstein, but it’s not going to make your child a genius. That’s why Disney is giving your money back.

Owners of Baby Einstein videos purchased between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009 are entitled to get their money back. Baby Einstein DVDs can also be traded in for a Baby Einstein book or CD. Another option is a 25 percent discount on future Baby Einstein purchases. The Disney Company offer is good up to March 4, 2010.

This move from Disney stems from pressure exerted by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) – a parent’s group that says their mission is to “reclaim childhood from corporate marketers.” The CCFC believes the sellers of the videos misled parents to believe that the Baby Einstein DVD series can make babies smarter.

The parents group filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission back in 2006, claiming that Disney used false and deceptive advertising in promoting the videos as educational. The CCFC cited that the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) does not recommend television for children under age 2 – even if the content is educational.

As featured in a previous post, experts say babies up to 2 years cannot learn language passively in front of a screen. They can only learn through human interaction. That is, by parents and other caregivers talking, interacting and playing with them.

The CCFC goes further in its complaint that Baby Einstein videos can even set back learning, as it takes time away from a baby’s interaction with his caregivers.

A University of Washington Study does point out that children sampled via research do have more limited vocabularies, the more they watched these educational videos. Other studies suggest that babies who watched television before age 2 also have a tendency to develop attention problems around the age of 7.

So I think it’s best to stick to the AAP recommendation of no TV until after age 2. In the mean time, what do you do to keep baby occupied while fixing dinner if no one else is around – and the electronic baby sitter is not an option?

Babies can also learn by exploring books and toys on his own. If you need to get some work done in the kitchen, leave him in a safely enclosed play area with stimulating toys, books or other safe-to-play-with objects that interest him. Make sure the play pen is nearby – within earshot and eye’s view. This is a good alternative to putting him in front of the TV.

See, typical babies also need (and enjoy) time alone to explore their world. This “exploring and processing time” also helps make your baby smarter. Ditch the DVD for now, and let baby exercise his own imagination!

Educational videos are not going to make your baby smarter.

A lot of educational DVDs are being marketed to make babies brainier, improve their vocabulary and make them talk early. But a new study affirms what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has claimed all along – that children under the age of 2 do not benefit from watching television. And this includes educational programs. Educational shows will only start to benefit kids past the age of 3. Only at this stage of a child’s growth, can  he already learn from a television screen. Before that, the screen is probably just like white noise to them.

Before age 3, children can only effectively learn language and concepts about the world around them if it is imparted by a human caregiver. That would be you holding an apple, moving the fruit in front of your toddler and calling it “apple”. At the toddler stage, the voice over a visual on screen just won’t impart what an apple is. Same goes for other learning concepts.

The latest study to support this claim by the AAP was conducted by the Center on Media and Child Health of Harvard Medical School. The study examined data on 872 children and their mothers. In-person visits with both mothers and babies were done right after birth, at 6 months and at 3 years old.

And what did researchers find? “Contrary to marketing claims and some parent’s perception that television viewing is beneficial to children’s brain development, no evidence of such benefit was found, ” says Marie Evans Schmidt, PhD, lead author of the Harvard study.

This is the first study that examined the long-term link between infant TV viewing and both language and visual-motor skills.

A research team from the University of Washington did a study on the link between TV and language development. In this previous study, they tested hundreds of families and found that the more babies and toddlers watched videos – particularly the educational ones – the smaller their vocabularies. Their thinking is, television took time away from real human interaction – the kind of talking and engagement needed for them to learn words at this stage of their development.

This is not to say the content of the programs were harmful. It’s just that TV messages will not register to a baby or toddler – no matter how educational or well-crafted.  The time spent looking at the screen could also have been spent playing and interacting with another person.

After age of 3, Dora, Sesame Street and The Little Einsteins can teach your kids a thing or two about words, letters and numbers. But while they’re younger than that, no one else can enrich their minds like mom and dad, or other engaging caregivers. Playing, talking, reading to them, taking them on trips to the park are the kinds of activities babies can learn from.

There is nothing like a real-life, caring human to be a child’s first tour guide to his new human world! So all that quality time isn’t just good for bonding… it’s great for making smarter babies as well.