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What is this funny box full of colors with these guys moving inside? Babies, as soon as they start moving, like to stop for a few minutes in front of the television set. In France, TV consumption for 2-5 year olds is increasing year by year and, given the numbers in the United States, the small screen has a bright future ahead of it. American babies, at the age of six months, are already glued there for an hour and a half a day!
VERY small amount of television for your baby!
For many parents, the television is a wonderful babysitter. It captivates attention, entertains and occupies your little one. Do not feel guilty to choose from time to time this option of “ease” to be able to go about your business without having Baby in the legs. The important thing is to leave him in front of programs that are adapted to him, to choose the right time of the day and not especially not abuse it ! Of course, if we can avoid turning it on, that’s even better.
Baby and TV: advice from Stéphane Clerget, child psychiatrist
TV: a mother testifies
“Our daughter was allowed to watch DVDs or cassettes when she was 2 years old. We started with “Petit Ours Brun”, whose format in very short episodes is ideal. We would watch five episodes in a row, generally. We then attacked with Noddy, a little longer, as well as “Les Petites Bêtes”, much appreciated by our chip. We always talked with her about what we saw together, what we felt as emotions (fear, joy, fun…). On the other hand, we do not let her see the TV, because there, we can no longer really control. “
Noémi, 39 years old, mother of Judicaëlle, 3 and a half years old, and Corentin, 1 month and a half
What your baby perceives in front of the TV
In the first months of his life, Baby is drawn to colors and melodies. You will notice that when you put it in front of the small screen, it wiggles its arms and legs. Around the age of 8 months, he begins to recognize certain characters, sets which are familiar to him… The first years, difficult to hold his attention: Baby prefers rapid movements, figures with funny shapes and full of colors.
Since a toddler does not yet express himself in words, it is not easy for parents to know what he is perceiving. Beware, he most often reacts to … your own reactions! ” There is images that may shock him him, but also those which will shock his parents ”underlines the child psychiatrist Stéphane Clerget. In other words, what will scare you, what will make you laugh… may provoke the same emotions in your child.
Up to 6 years old, he will be mainly interested in the details of the sequences, and not in their totality.
Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr.