There is a reason television is called the ultimate babysitter. Here’s why you should not treat it that way.

With the proliferation of so many educational shows and easy access to kiddie cable channels, more and more, parents/mommy think that it is okay to let their kids watch and learn from TV viewing. The early years are vital to a child’s development, and studies have yet to prove the absolute positive effects of television on infants and toddlers. However, researches on the benefits of parent and child interactions are already proven. Thus, recommended stimulation for children under the age of two must focus more on playing, singing, talking, reading, listening to music and meaningful communication between the child and parent. But if you really cannot avoid putting your child in front of the boob tube, you desperately need to distract her for a few minutes while you finish an urgent chore, or set time limits on TV viewing.