To View or Not to View

After reading today's ExchangeEveryday addressing the issue: Viewing TV at the Center , a few specific thoughts come to mind. In light of what early childhood educators know about how TV viewing can affect child development, it was surprising to read that according to a study by the AAP, children in child care centers watch 2-3 hours of TV a day in family childcare homes---and up to 1 1/2 hours a day in centers. That is on top of any hours they may spend watching in a car or at home!

• Does your early childhood program or employer have a policy about the use of television?
• Do you use television, DVD's or other electronic devices in your program? How often? Under what circumstances?
• Can you estimate how many hours a week children in your care spend viewing television or DVDs?
• Do you feel that television can be part of a DAP educational program? If so, under what conditions? How?
  
• Do you feel that if you had better curriculum, professional training, and more staff you would feel the need to "turn on the tube" less often?

While PreschoolFirst does not suggest viewing any television programs or DVD resources as a part of it's classroom curriculum, it does use short youtube clips as a way to expand an idea or concept in a small number of specific activities. How do you feel about viewing in this context?

We are continually interested in the issues of parenting and educating young children in a technological world. Please share your views. Visit the ExchangeEveryDay webpage and see the posted comments by fellow EC educators.