Scientists have found a positive link between delayed language development in toddlers and watching television.

Starting the mid-1950s, TV became a staple system in many households in the U.S. Whether one is with or without cable, TV has become one of the most commonly-viewed forms of media in the world.

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Researchers have only begun to examine both the beneficial and detrimental effects that television brings into people's lives, however.

One of the detrimental effects recently discovered is the delayed language development in toddlers.

Being a child is a time of rapid growth and more importantly, rapid learning. An increase in TV viewing may stunt the learning capabilities of a child.

Initially, educational television programs were seen as a convenient and modern way to boost a child's learning and development. Various TV networks have created shows that they say are focused on learning.

A recently published article in PLoS One, however, states that this couldn't be farther from the truth. The paper says children might be missing out on some important opportunities for learning.

Researchers studied over 1,700 Korean toddlers. They then took note of their language development and TV viewing habits.

Other factors taken into consideration were: the primary caregiver, household income, the size of home city, information about the parents that include educational attainment, employment, marital satisfaction, and communication patterns with the child.

Results showed children that spent more time watching TV developed their language much more slowly.

The average time for television viewing for the toddlers was about 1.21 hours a day.

Children that exceeded this number and watched for two to three hours a day were three times likely to have a delay in language development.

Researchers say the findings are important for toddlers as they live in an important time of development.

Thus, they suggest other avenues for learning should be taken such as providing communication opportunities in reading and playing.  

TagsToddlers, television, language delay