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May 10, 2005
Contact: Dr. Susan Linn (617) 278-4282
slinn@jbcc.harvard.edu
Dr. Diane Levin (617) 879-2176
dlevin@wheelock.edu
For Immediate Release
Children’s Coalition to Parents:
HBO’s Classical Baby is a Classic Hoax
The Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is warning
parents to keep their infants and toddlers away from the
upcoming HBO television special
Classical Baby which will air on Saturday, May 14.
According to HBO, the program is beneficial for infants and
young children.
Psychiatrist Alvin F. Poussaint of the Judge Baker Children’s
Center challenged HBO’s claims about the show’s benefits for
babies: “There is no scientific evidence that demonstrates
watching television is beneficial to infants. In fact, because
of possible risks, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
that children under the age of two shouldn’t watch any
television at all.”
Wheelock College Professor Diane Levin, author of Remote Control
Childhood, said that the push to get babies to watch television
is depriving them of the real learning and exploiting parents’
desire to be good parents. “Babies learn best by interacting
with people and objects and seeing how they can affect their
world. What they learn from television is to turn to screens for
stimulation and soothing.”
Classical Baby is being promoted as HBO’s first evening special
for infants, babies and parents. HBO claims the program will
introduce young children to classical music, painting and dance
and “fulfills the potential for TV to inspire and engage a
baby’s imagination and sense of wonder, while serving as a
wonderful tool for early learning – and family bonding.”
CCFC’s Susan Linn, psychologist and author of Consuming Kids,
countered, “Babies do not need HBO or any television to bond
with their parents or enjoy music. Turn the TV off, put on your
favorite music, and spend some time rocking, singing, or dancing
around the room with your baby. Now that’s bonding.”
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 consumerism. For more information,
please visit: www.commercialfreechildhood.org
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