The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts,looked at the behaviour of 50 children up to the age of three while theyplayed with toys for an hour. A game show played in the background forhalf of the time and was switched off for the other half hour. Twohidden video cameras were used to monitor the children's behaviour.
Researchers found that when the television was on in the background thetoy play of the children at every age was disrupted, even though thechildren looked at the television for only a few seconds at a time andless than once per minute. When the television was on, the childrenplayed for significantly shorter periods of time and the time they spentfocused on their play was shorter, compared with when the television wasoff.
Separate studies have found that almost 75 per cent of US parents ofvery young children say that the television is on half the time or more,even if no-one is watching, despite recommendations by experts thatchildren under two should not watch at all.
Researchers concluded just having the television on in the backgroundcould be detrimental to development. The study said, 'Even though theeffects of television on play are small, they may have a cumulativeimpact. These may include poorer cognitive and language development andattention-deficit symptoms.'
Dr Marie Evans Schmidt, who led the study, added, 'Background televisionis a chronic environmental risk factor affecting most American children.Parents should limit their young children's exposure to backgroundtelevision.'
Liz Attenborough, manager of the Talk to Your Baby campaign, said, 'Wealways stress that age-appropriate television is best and we suggestparents talk to children about the programmes they watch. Children needdaily, focused attention with no background noise as they learn byimitation and one to one contact, which they will not get if familiesare watching television all the time.'