You might have seen posts on social media recently comparing ‘low-stimulation’ and ‘high-stimulation’ TV shows, videos and content for under-fives.
What exactly does this mean? And is it something parents should worry about?
CBeebies Parenting spoke to child psychologist Linda Blair to find out more.
What are the recommendations around screen time?
A review from the Department of Education recommends that parents aim for no more than one hour of screen time per day for under-fives.
For children under two years old, they say to avoid screens except for shared, interactive use.
They also recommend that video content and TV shows for under-fives is…
- Slow-paced
- Simple
- Repetitive
- Made specifically for their age group
…and should also have a recognisable story structure and message (for example, it may have a beginning, middle and end).
"The brain is developing faster in those first five years than it will any other time except when it was developing in the womb." - Linda
Are low-stimulation shows better for my child?
What do we mean by low-stimulation? Some might have heard it called 'low-stim'.
The best description is probably the government recommendation of content for under-fives - slow-paced, simple, repetitive and with a clear beginning, middle and end.
This kind of content can be beneficial for your child as you watch together.
What you would call 'high-stimulation' depends on your child, but more on that later.
When we think about about high-stimulation and low-stimulation shows, Linda reminds us: "It's not binary. The key is what benefits the child gets from it.
"A slow-paced, calm situation will disrupt your child's attention less."
If a show demands less of your child's attention, it will open up opportunities for you to interact, have fun and chat - prioritising their development.
"Be guided by your child," Linda says. "Look for the things that your child really pays attention to and loves."
When you notice these things, Linda suggests using these as starting points for meaningful conversations that get them to really engage with what they've seen.
"If it wasn't too grasping of their attention and they could actually get something out of it, then while you're having lunch, you could ask, 'What was your favorite colour in that?' or, 'Which character did you like best?'"
"You can help their memory develop by talking about the past’."
And, of course, they're much less likely to pay attention and learn if they're over-stimulated.
How can I tell if my child is over-stimulated?
Every child is different, and what might be okay for some, might be overwhelming for others.
A 'high-stimulation', or 'high-stim', TV show or video could be something that is loud, fast, bright and colourful, which doesn't sound all bad, but it depends on how it affects your child.
How can you tell if a TV show or video is making your child uncomfortable or agitated?
"It's things like a picking habit, fidgeting in their seat, starting to dance in a crazy way, not fun with the music, but moving too much or crying," Linda says.
However, if you notice this behaviour in your child, Linda suggests you don't want to shock your child by turning content off straight away.
"Maybe turn down the volume and ask, 'Is this maybe not the right show? Shall we find another one?'"
"You've turned the child's attention to something they can understand and answer, so they feel back in control."
Linda also recommends touching your child in a soothing way to help bring down the adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that affect their stress response.
Your participation is the most important thing
Whether you're watching a gentle show, or something a bit more energetic, the Linda says the most important thing is that you're interacting with your child as they watch it.
"We know that the worst thing for a child in terms of their optimal brain development is to watch TV without any feedback from a real person," she explains.
"Because when the parent talks with them, they get the rich language they need to be able to understand what is happening on the screen, and that's far more important than what the screen gave them.
"The most important thing of all is that you don't give your child TV as a babysitter. TV is something you do together, hopefully."
"Rather than thinking of TV shows as good or bad, I want you to think of how you can use the TV to help you and your child get closer and understand more things together."
Calm shows to encourage chat from CBeebies
