TV has a negative impact on parent-child communication

Watching TV can lead to less interaction between parents and children, with a detrimental impact on literacy and language skills, according to a U.S. study published in Human Communication Research.

To reveal the impact on children’s development, scientists in Ohio studied 73 mother-child pairs to compare communication while watching TV to reading books or playing with toys.

By explaining and describing objects or new words and images, or by prompting conversation through questions, maternal responsiveness can help to engage a child with the activity. The parent can also provide positive feedback and encouragement to a child, or repeat what the child has said to help familiarize them with certain words or sights.

"Mothers who are responsive to their infant’s communication promote a positive self-perception for the child as well as fostering trust in the parent. Positive responses help the child learn that they can affect their environment," said study co-author Amy Nathanson. "However, if maternal responsiveness is absent, children learn that their environment is unpredictable and may become anxious, knowing that their bids for attention or help may be ignored."

The study concluded that reading together increased maternal communication, while watching TV decreased maternal communication. Often children are left alone with the TV, and researchers encouraged parents to regularly substitute other forms of entertainment for their child “to ensure frequent and positive interaction with their child.”

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