After years of study, the AAP has strengthened its position against allowing children under the age of two to watch any television or media
They crawl, cruise, toddle, walk, and run. Best of all, they explore their ever-expanding world with their eyes, ears, hands, and their whole bodies. They are why parents baby-proof their homes.
Toddlers under two are a daring and energetic bunch whose lives focus on becoming increasingly comfortable with their social and physical worlds. In order to do so, they must experience their world, first hand, in all its dimensions, and with all their senses. As the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends in their recent policy statement, this is best done in person and not through screens and media.
In 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics discouraged the use of media in the under-two-year-old age group because they felt that there was concern that it did more harm than good in the development of young children. Now, 12 years later, the Academy has strengthened its position on this issue, citing the lack of evidence showing any educational or developmental benefits for media use; the potential negative health and developmental effects of media use; and the negative effects of parents' use of media when toddlers are around.
The report is an effort to combat the message promoted by those in the media industry who have targeted the 0-2 age group claiming educational and developmental advantages to their products. It is also meant to help parents understand that "the educational merit of media for children younger than 2 years remains unproven."