Issue No. 8  January 16, 2012

Selecting Toys that Support Infant and Toddler Learning and Development

Interested in how infant and toddler caregivers can create healthy attachments to the children in their settings? Using Toys to Support Infant-Toddler Learning and Development by Gabriel Guyton is an article that highlights ways in which teachers who are knowledgeable about child development and play can intentionally select toys that meet young children’s unique needs and interests and support learning.

Reinforced Recommendation: No Screen Time for Kids Under 2

When the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated their guidelines, the organization reaffirmed its 1999 recommendation that discouraged television viewing by children under age 2. The AAP’s newest policy statement on the topic, “Media Use by Children Younger Than Two Years,” comes on the scene at a time when children’s screen options have expanded to include other forms of electronic media, such as computers, video games, tablets, and smart phones. The group once again calls for parents to limit screen time for children under age 2, pointing to additional research showing the negative effects of too much time spent with electronic media at young ages, particularly the sacrifice of time spent engaging in creative play and interacting with people and objects.

Despite the AAP’s guidelines, the results of a new survey from Common Sense Media show that electronic media are prevalent in the lives of children from birth to age 8. More than a quarter of all screen time is spent with newer digital media, including computers, video games, smart phones, and tablets, with half of all children having access to one of these devices. More specifically, apps on newer mobile devices are increasingly popular, and have been used by 10% of infants up to 1-year old, 39% of 2- to 4-year-olds, and 52% of 5- to 8-year-olds.