Nzjournal 15.1ritchie
Nzjournal 15.1ritchie
Nzjournal 15.1ritchie
and knowing brings with it the beginnings of a
and not relevant to the wide range of media and sense of self as separate from the world and from
computerized learning possibilities now available. other people.
Research has been continuing, however, in The young child is completely open and
particular since the year 2000, especially in receptive to the sensory world. He/she cannot
relation to medical and developmental concerns. shut off to unwanted stimuli of any kind. The love
A paper prepared for the European Parliament in of parents and other close caregivers surrounds
2010 by Dr Aric Sigman gives this as a closing children to support and shield them through the
statement: huge growth and development which takes place
“There is a ‘dose-response’ relationship at this time.
between the age at which children start When we describe the impact of the sensory
watching screen media, the number of daily world on child development it is helpful to use
hours they watch and negative effects on the 12 senses model which was proposed by
physical health and well-being irrespective Rudolf Steiner prior to 1923. He spoke of four
of the quality of the screen material. Screen will senses which have their most important
$
$
"'
health issue and reducing screen time must are the senses of touch, life, movement and
become the new priority for child health”. balance. They are the senses which inform us
1. Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Christchurch, New Zealand. (The editors thank Robyn for this article, written on request upon her
return from lecturing at the New York conference of the International Society on Early Intervention, March/April 2011. In October, 2012
!
" on the development of skilled movement.
'+6;<
$ We stand upright in EQUILIBRIUM having
to development. Babies who are not lovingly mastered gravity and the challenges of balance.
touched and nurtured do not grow or thrive. At birth the infant cannot even raise its head and
Screen viewing is passive and has no tactile $
$
>
component. Children are always irritable after uprightness achieved. An unobserved but vital
$
part of this balancing process is the integration
" or working together of the two sides of the body
– which culminates in a dominant side being
The LIFE sense is the sense of well being and established and with this specialization of the
encompasses all the rhythmic aspects of our functions of each side of the brain. Recent
body and our activity. The infant’s heart beat research shows the detrimental effect of screen
and breathing mature throughout childhood. The viewing on children’s motor skills development
digestive tract must mature so that it can transition with a reduction in motivation to move. Equally
from milk to solid food; sleeping and waking importantly amongst the changes to the brain
need to be established. The child’s brain is only structure are reductions in the size and condition
gradually building connections between actions, of brain cells in the orbito-frontal (thinking)
emotions and meaning. Studies now show that part of the brain as well in the corpus callosum
children exposed to screen viewing from infancy which is the bridge which links and unites the
have delayed development, sleeping is disturbed, two sides of the brain and is vital to integration,
excitably or passivity is induced and crucial brain the establishment of dominance and speed of
pathways, associated with socialization and processing information.
problem solving, are underdeveloped. Rhythms
The second group of senses described by
associated with eating and daily routines give
$
way to the demand of the screen programme.
the life of feeling. They are awake from birth, but
The results of studies also show that background
TV exposure is as damaging as direct viewing. second seven year period. These are the senses
The MOVEMENT sense arises from information of smell, taste, vision and warmth.
@GKK
''G
relation to our closest care givers. Our essential
that we can learn to move with skill. The infant well-being depends on knowing whether we are
must ‘grow down’ into its limbs, down to the toes hungry or not, knowing if what we take in is good or
not. Screen viewing means that the metabolism
culminates in the child walking. The interaction is slower and fewer calories are burned. Children
$
$
fascinated by light and colour. Eyes are static in auditory information has been affected by the
this process of looking and the eye muscles are dominance of visual information, ear preference
not exercised. is not achieved. Language development is
Screen viewing produces minimal brain delayed. Studies show that babies who watched
activity, moving it into sleep mode. Even playing programmes, such as “Baby Einstein”, had 8-10
computer games is associated with limited less words at 18 months than infants who did not
neurological activity. Heavy screen viewers have watch visual media programmes.
been found to have fewer skills in goal directed The sense of WORD is developed during the
behaviour, attention, working memory, inhibition
X[
of behaviour, problem solving and self regulation;
$
"
$
demonstrating that the passivity of viewing does is a delay in language acquisition in children
not stimulate brain growth. who are both active and passive screen viewers.
The ability to create an internal picture is vital When TV and other media are consistently
to creative thought. When we listen to a story we present in the young child’s environment less time
create our own pictures. Screen viewing gives a is spent in face to face interaction. A screen talks
picture which does not encourage creativity. to you, but it does not respond contingently to
every facial expression or utterance as a devoted
The sense of WARMTH relates to both physical
parent does.
and emotional warmth. Children grow in loving,
interactive relationship; the caregiver’s interest The sense of THOUGHT is the sense that
generates warmth and enthusiasm. Enthusiasm gives us the possibility to interpret what others
stimulates ideas and is mirrored back by the are saying. To understand the thought behind
child in the two way process of learning. Studies what is spoken and to be receptive to an others
have shown that over the last 20 years eye to thoughts, we need to be able to stand in our own
Bibliography
Healy, Jane (1999): Endangered Minds: Why Children Don’t Think And What We Can Do About It. 978-0684856209
Winn, Marie (2002): The Plug-In Drug: Television, Computers, and Family Life. Penguin 978-0142001080
Steiner, Rudolf (1981): Man as a Being of Sense and Perception. 22-24 July 1921 GA206. ISBN: 0919924115. Online: www.doyletics.
jj
"
The research referred to in this article comes from a presentation given by Dr Aric Sigman in August 2010. The presentation is entitled
“The Impact of Screen Media on Children: A Eurovision for Parliament.”1
Some studies cited in this paper are:
1. American Academy of Paediatrics. (April 1. 2011): Guidance for the clinician: The impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents
and Families.
2. Christakis, D.A. et al (2004): Early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems in children. Paediatrics. 113 (4):708-13
3. Ekelund U. et al (2008): European Youth Heart Study, PLoS Medicine.3(12)
4. Hancox, R.J. et al (2005): Association of television viewing during childhood with poor educational achievement. Archives of Paediatric
Medicine, 159: 614-18
5. Lin F. et al (2012): Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract- Based Spatial Statistics
Study. PLoS ONE 7(1)e30253
6. Linn, S, Poussaint A.F. (2001): The Truth about Teletubbies. In ‘Zero to Three’.; Oct/Nov:24-29 2001
7. Pagani, L.S. et al (2010): Prospective Associations between Early Childhood Television Exposure and Academic, Psychosocial, and
Physical Wellbeing by Middle Childhood. Arch Paediatric Adolescent Medicine. 164(5): 425-431