Too Much TV Detrimental to Toddlers

The TV is on in our house most of the day, but our young toddlers don't watch it much of the time. Is this truly bad for them? Also, all we ever hear about are the negatives of young children watching TV. Aren't there any positives? -- TV Lover
Answer: Shut your TV off. Hearing TV in the background results in shorter playtime, less talking and less listening to others talk for toddlers. You'll clearly see this if you observe them playing while the TV is on.
You really should follow the TV viewing guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Academy strongly recommends that children do not view TV until they are age 2. After that, the Academy suggests no more than 2 hours a day. These are sensible guidelines for parents to follow and really allow for a lot of TV viewing. You must understand that most of the day in early childhood needs to be devoted to active play to maximize intellectual development. Just think of all the other opportunities to experience the world that your toddlers are missing while watching TV.
There are other downsides to watching too much TV at a young age. Later on, some current research shows that you can expect many of them to have poorer achievement in math in school and to be less active physically. They are also likely to consume more junk food than those who have watched less TV.
Early TV watching has been completely demonized by most child-development experts. There actually are some positive benefits to preschoolers who watch programs with a strong educational content. Later on, these children might read more and get better grades. Unfortunately, most toddlers are definitely not watching primarily educational programs.