It is useful for parents to watch TV with their children

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A study by scientists from the University of Portsmouth showed that if children watch TV with their parents, it benefits their cognitive development. These are the smallest children under the age of two.

British researchers together with French colleagues studied the impact of the so-called passive use of the screen on the development of a small child's intelligence. They found that regardless of the shape of the screen (whether it is a TV or a smartphone with a tablet), viewing it is useful, but only depending on the conditions. First, scientists analyzed 478 studies published over the past 20 years.

The findings of these studies clearly show that watching television at an early age is harmful to the development of children's language and executive functions, as well as to their games. But it turned out that when the content of what the child is watching is close to him in age, viewing will have a positive effect. Especially if it is designed to encourage interaction.

And time in front of the TV screen is especially valuable for a child if there is an adult nearby, for example, dad or mom. In this case, the kids don't just watch passively, but ask questions and communicate. This context plays an important role in determining the strength and nature of television's influence on children's cognitive development. Co-viewing also promotes a child's language development and provides children with a role model for shaping TV viewing behavior.