Loading...
Media exposure (on television, computers, videos, and smart phones) begins in infancy and is pervasive in the lives of children and adolescents. In 2011, the effects of such exposure were addressed in the literature and by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in two policy statements and a clinical report.
According to the AAP policy statement on Media Use by Children Younger Than 2 Years, 90% of children younger than 2 years watch some form of electronic media — as a peacemaker and safe activity at best and as a babysitter at worst. By age 3 years, one third of children have a television in their bedrooms — putting them at risk for delayed sleep onset, increased caloric intake, and nightmares resulting from overstimulation. Excessive ea…