An interesting article on the UK’s BBC website last week reported on new research arguing that watching large amounts of television can have a negative impact on childhood literacy development.
Apparently the research found that when children were able to hear a television – either in the background or while they were watching – the ‘number of words spoken and sounds made by either adult or child reduced considerably’.
This research certainly backs up the opinions of a number of literacy experts, such as the Australian Mem Fox, who criticise some teachers and parents who actively promote television watching as a means of teaching language and literacy. They feel that, since television watching doesn’t allow for a two-way conversation, it can inhibit the growth of an emerging reader’s vocabulary.
However, a balanced approach is usually the best, and this instance is no exception. Television watching in small doses can be beneficial to reading development, and so-called educational programmes can be a good source of learning. What’s important is that they are used in moderation, and not as a substitute for reading aloud with a child.
