June 6, 2007

Question: Should a 3-year-old have a TV/DVD player in his bedroom so that he can go to his room to watch movies and TV when his parents are not interested in watching the same program?

Answer: I can't imagine a reason such a young child should have a TV in his bedroom. Even for older children and teens, having a TV and/or DVD player in the bedroom (or a computer, for that matter) makes it too easy for kids to have an excessive amount of "screen time," which takes time away from other more valuable activities. A TV in the bedroom also contributes to isolation of individual family members, cutting into time for families to be together for conversation and shared activities. Setting such a pattern with a 3-year-old is a bad idea all around.

Your message didn't indicate whether you're asking this question about your own child or about another family you know. But to parents who are considering placing a TV in their child's room, I suggest the following:

• Keep the bedroom free of stimulating media technology of any kind. Focus instead on having a good reading light and a stack of age-appropriate books on hand. Make reading together a part of your bedtime ritual. And, as the child gets older, encourage him to read on his own at bedtime to help him relax and settle into a good night's sleep.
  
  
• Be selective about the quality and quantity of TV or DVD-viewing your child does. And try to watch high-quality shows together, talking about them afterwards. With young children, asking "who, what, where, when and why" questions helps them develop critical thinking and language skills. And by focusing on the actions of characters - and the consequences of those actions - you can help your child develop important moral and social values.
  
  
• At times when you need something to keep an active child busy while you prepare dinner or make an important phone call, have your child do a puzzle or draw a picture at a nearby table. Or if you do decide to have him watch a favorite TV show or DVD, have him close by so you can keep an eye on him.

Dr. Erickson and her daughter can be heard every Sunday, from 2 - 4 pm, on "Good Enough Moms," on FM107.1 radio in the Twin Cities or via Webcast at www.FM1071.com