‘CoComelon’, that mesmerizing show that has toddlers entranced with its bright colors and catchy tunes – my own three-year-old was no exception. Yet, questions are swirling. Can ‘Cocomelon’ lead to delayed speech and temper tantrums? With recent discussions suggesting potential harm, concerns over its intensity, and the possible ripple effects on behavior and language development, it’s a parental puzzle. Kassie Hanson, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, owner of Talk 2 Me Mama, believes it’s worth examining.
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The effects of television on a child’s growth and development are context and age-specific. The effects of television on the attention, cognition, and communication of children under the age of two have been clearly demonstrated in the scientific literature. Preschoolers should not be glued to a screen. Children over the age of 2 can benefit from some screen time if it is of good quality and parents engage with their children while they watch it.
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Everything you wanted to know about CoComelon and the impact of children’s television on their growth is right here.
What is CoComelon?
CoComelon is a well-known YouTube channel that now has its own program on Netflix. There are “educational songs and nursery rhymes for kids” on the show’s official website. In order to aid “preschoolers in learning letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors, and more,” the show employs bright animation and characters like JJ and his siblings.
When Did People First Start Worrying About CoComelon?
Long-standing concerns about CoComelon have recently been linked to the video-sharing platform TikTok. Apparently, @sierrarenaeee’s 2-year-old, who has a speech delay and is “addicted” to the app, is featured in a video she posted. Sierra’s anxiety subsided after she adjusted her YouTube channel. “He’s already saying more words and hasn’t had any tantrums,” she remarked. And because of her honesty, other mothers and fathers spoke out about their feelings about CoComelon.
How Does Television Influence Young Minds?
While most of the recent discussion has focused on CoComelon, you should be aware of the potential negative effects of children’s television on your child’s growth. Particularly hazardous are fast-paced shows with poor content, which provide no educational value and instead overstimulate your child’s brain. Many children react strongly to screen time and throw tantrums when it is taken away. Low-quality programming has been linked to encouraging defiant or violent conduct in children.
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Children who watched screens for more than two hours per day were five times more likely to show symptoms of ADHD than their classmates who watched screens for 30 minutes or less per day, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta. Selecting appropriate programming is essential if you decide to allow your child to watch television. Super Why! and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood are two such programs.
Could TV and CoComelon be to Blame for Delayed Language Development and Temper Tantrums?
There is no conclusive evidence proving that playing CoComelon causes behavioral and/or developmental difficulties, despite recent assertions on TikTok and (apparently broad) condemnation. Claims that the fast-paced scenes in CoComelon are too exciting need to be backed up by evidence, but such research has not been conducted. Nothing suggests the show is responsible for temper tantrums or language development lags.
However, TV, in general, can help. Excessive TV viewing in early life has been linked to language, cognition, and social-emotional competence developmental impairments.
If screen time substitutes caregivers and peers, your child may develop a speech delay. If your child is older than 2, however, some parents have discovered that highly informative, interactive TV can serve as a springboard for teaching them new words.
The best way to ensure your child gets the most out of their television time is to watch shows with them and stay with high-quality, educational programming like Sesame Street and other PBS programs.
Meaningful articles you might like: A Guide to Fostering Children’s Emotional and Social Growth, A Guide to Educating Children About Honesty Based on Their Age, How to Support Your Sensitive Child to Cope with the Overwhelming World