May 11, 2006

Contact: Dr. Susan Linn (617.278.4282); susan<at>commercialfreechildhood.org

For Immediate Release

Statement of CCFC’s Dr. Susan Linn on BabyFirstTV,

the First TV Channel for Infants and Toddlers

BabyFirstTV is a new low in the media and marketing industries efforts to lure babies to screens.  Claims that their programming is “developmentally appropriate” for infants as young as six months are bogus.  No one knows what developmentally appropriate screen media is for children that young.  What is known is that placing babies in front of screens takes them away from activities that really do promote healthy development.

Parents deserve honest information about the pros and cons of introducing babies to screen media. Instead, what they are getting is marketing hype.  There is no evidence that television is beneficial to babies and growing evidence that it may be harmful.   Even as parents are saturated with false and deceptive advertising that touts the benefits of screen media for infants and toddlers, only 6% know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under two.  

Parents have the right to raise infants and toddlers without being undermined by commercial interests.

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration among organizations and individuals who care about children.  CCFC supports the rights of children to grow up – and the rights of parents to raise them – without being undermined by rampant commercialism.  For more information, please visit: www.commercialfreechildhood.org