Mums hit back on TV warning

Baby programmes and channels aimed at pre-school children could damage their development, new research has claimed.

But Shropshire mothers today hit back, maintaining that television could be part of a young child's daily routine as long as it was responsibly included in family life.

Ofcom, the British TV regulator, has asked its counterpart in France to send over research on the subject after tough new measures were introduced in that country to protect the young.

Across the channel there are claims that parents use dedicated channels such as BabyTV, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, as a form of babysitting.

But mothers in the county said that while they would never use the small screen as a form of babysitting it was impossible to completely avoid television when "the reality of modern-day parenting kicks in".

Gina Cox-Roberts from Arleston, Telford, a natal hypnotherapy expert, said her one-year-old daughter Ember was allowed to watch for 20 minutes a day.

"When I was pregnant I read an article about how TV can affect a child's brain activity and I resolved then that our child would never watch TV," she added.

"Now she's here and the reality of modern-day parenting has kicked in that resolution hasn't stuck, though.

"She now watches one programme for 20 minutes each day as part of her bedtime routine, but we watch it with her and comment about what's happening on screen so it still feels like an interactive experience."

Fay Bailey, from Shrewsbury, said she tried hard to limit her one-year-old son Isaac's exposure to television but added that he wasn't really interested in it.

"I know these precious days are numbered as once he gets older he will certainly ask to watch television. As long as programmes are carefully screened by parents and a time-limit set I honestly don't think allowing children to watch some television is that awful.

"Obviously plonking children in front of television for hours on end is less than desirable but life is busy and stressful for most parents.

"We would all like to think that we have the time and energy to give our children undivided attention but the reality is very different."

Researchers in France say they found that watching television delayed language learning and could cause sleep disorders.

From November TV channels and programmes in France will be banned from promoting the proclaimed "educational benefits" of shows aimed at under-threes which will have to carry a warning before they start.

Ofcom stated that at present there is no evidence that proves such content is harmful but has said it will consider in detail this new research on the topic.

By Women's Editor Tracey O'Sullivan