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Brain training computer games for babies may actually work

Doctors always say that less screen time is better for baby, but a new study says some screen time could be beneficial for babies. Researchers believe they have created a computer program that actually builds baby's ability to concentrate.

Scientists at the University of London, Birkbeck tested 42 babies, splitting them into two groups. One group watched a computer program which encouraged them to focus on a moving target, the other group was shown cartoons. Afterward both groups were given a variety of tests to measure their ability to concentrate. The group shown the computer program were able to focus longer on specific images and objects without getting distracted.

Of course, the study's results aren't guaranteed - scientists don't know if the computer program has a long-term effect on concentration. But researchers are hopeful that programs such as this could build concentration in infants during the crucial stages of trying to acquire skills and learn languages.

If there was a computer program to help baby learn to concentrate, would you try it? Or do you agree that less screen time is better for baby?

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Comment by mama0313 on September 26, 2011 at 6:44am: yes i'm surprised there isn't a control group.

Comment by Beka on September 24, 2011 at 10:43am: My initial reaction was exactly what Ivy said. There is no control group in the study. The researchers need to have a group not watching TV nor the computer program but just playing/exploring.

Comment by Mrs. Aa on September 23, 2011 at 4:53pm: This isn't a big surprise for me. I'm that mom who allows the kids to watch tv at an early age, my daughter also loves to play with electronic gadgets, she is 14mo and always ahead on her milestones. So if anything, I can say that it hasn't hurt her. If it has helped her in any way, well, I don't know - but she understands the 3 languages we speak at home, she repeats a lot of what we say, and says different things in these different languages, all by her own initiative. I think that's pretty cool for a 14mo. She started saying things before her first birthday. But I do control how much tv my kids watch, also the content of the things they watch (I believe in the "age appropriate" approach). We also read a lot together, both with the baby and my 9yo, and when I play with them I play like I'm a kid myself. We love to spend quality time together, and I'm sure this counts a lot. It's probably the most important thing of all.

In my humble opinion, I think every case is different. I know kids in my neighbourhood who watch stuff that is WAY inappropriate for their age, play games that again they shouldn't be playing, and guess who are the kids that are always getting in trouble? Guess who is bullying the children in the school bus? Guess how much their parents know of what they are doing at all, and how much they interact with these kids? Me and some other parents had to talk to the school counselor last week, because one of these boys is seriously threatening our children. These kids I'm talking about are always by themselves, their parents are either working all day or just too busy with their friends to care, and when I see them together, they are doing grown up stuff. It breaks my heart.

Kids need PARENTS - to love them, to teach them, to play with them, to control them too, yes, and definitely to show them right from wrong. One of these "trouble" boys here doesn't even watch much tv... He says he "doesn't like cartoons, or kids&family movies" (really? 8yo boys?!). He only likes "war movies, the ones with guns and a lot of shooting and blood" (his words!), because, guess what?

"-That's the only thing my dad watches, too."

I've never seen him playing with anything that's not a Nerf Gun, or something like it. He doesn't have "bed time", "homework time", he showers when/if he wants to (eh???) and he is always wandering around the complex, all alone, even after 10pm. This boy is EIGHT years old! The tv alone is REALLY not the bad guy. Many times, parents are. Unfortunately. :(

And Ivy, you're absolutely right!

Comment by Chrisa on September 23, 2011 at 12:39pm: I like what Ivy said about this.

Comment by Ivy on September 22, 2011 at 10:48am: This study needs a control group. Instead of simply comparing babies who watch cartoons to babies who watch a computer program, they need to add a third group of babies who are not exposed to screen time at all during the experiment. Let that third group play with toys or their parents. The computer program might be better than cartoons, but they don't present any evidence that the computer program is better than interacting with other people or playing with toys.