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Should I let my kid watch CoComelon?

Babies should not watch Cocomelon or any other programs that involve screen time. The World Health Organization recommends children abstain from sedentary screen time until 2 years of age. After this, the guide is up to 1 hour per day, but no screen time is better than some.

thinkplaytime.com - Is Cocomelon Harmful to Babies? Here's the Research - Think Playtime

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Cocomelon has captured the hearts and attention of children around the world. Some parents swear by the program’s benefits. Some believe it harmless. And some avoid it like the plague. But while opinions on Cocomelon remain divided, scientific studies have uncovered some answers on screen time in general. Babies should not watch Cocomelon or any other programs that involve screen time. The World Health Organization recommends children abstain from sedentary screen time until 2 years of age. After this, the guide is up to 1 hour per day, but no screen time is better than some.

Despite this, it’s not uncommon for parents to introduce some form of screen time in infancy. After all, we watched TV as kids and turned out fine. Sure, some shows are bad, but isn’t educational content like LooLoo Kids and Cocomelon okay, especially in moderation?

This article was originally published on thinkplaytime.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.

What Is Cocomelon?

If you’ve seen a toddler glued to a smartphone, chances are they’re watching Cocomelon. The popular sing-along series, which focuses on a young boy named JJ and his family, started as a small YouTube channel. Since then, Cocomelon has grown to become the second most subscribed channel in the world, with over 141 million subscribers and over 137 billion views across its videos. It also streams content across Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services, and sells merchandise to children around the globe.

Why Do Parents Think Cocomelon is Good?

Some parents believe Cocomelon can help improve their child’s literacy skills, due to the constant repetition of words and catchy tunes. Cocomelon’s own YoutTube bio has claimed to help preschoolers “learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors, and more”. Others approve of the practical life lessons derived from childhood experiences, and an argument can be made that watching Cocomelon can give your kid some common ground to help them connect with other children.

What Does the Research Say About Cocomelon?

There is currently no well-regarded academic research on the implications of children watching Cocomelon specifically. Despite this, there is ample evidence against children watching media programs of any nature in their early years. In one study, researchers found that each hour of TV watched by children before age 3 resulted in negative effects across various measures of their cognitive development by age 6-7. Another study showed that watching TV between ages 1-3 is linked to attention problems by age 7.

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Each hour of TV watched by infants between ages 8-16 months saw increasing detriment to their language development, according to this study. Interestingly, there was no significant difference for toddlers aged 17-24 months, nor was there a significant association when parents watched and interacted alongside their child. Other studies report no association between television viewing and language or visual motor skills at 3 years of age, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find a study that claims any benefit in their first few years. Some parents argue that if the program is educational, then it’s okay for children. There is some merit to that claim, with one study showing watching some TV programs resulted in greater vocabulary and expressive language when compared with others. Another study saw that while entertainment content resulted in attentional problems for children under 3, the same association was not found when watching educational content. It’s important to remember that while one tv program might be better than another, it doesn’t mean either is ‘good’. The fact is that infants and toddlers learn best by interacting with their environment and with the people around them. No screen time is better than some screen time.

What Do the Experts Say About Cocomelon?

Child Development Specialist Jerrica Sannes has likened Cocomelon to a hyper-stimulatory drug for children. On her Instagram Stories Highlight, she explains that the show provides strong hits of dopamine which “leads to young children experiencing symptoms of addiction and withdrawal, obviously leaving them completely dysregulated…The more they watch the show, the more their brain begins to expect this intense level of stimulation.” Daniel Marullo seems to have a different perspective on the show, based on his interview with Romper. The Clinical Psychologist doesn’t believe the show is directly harmful. The issue is that watching it takes away time that could be better spent on other things that are directly beneficial to their development. “For those younger kids under 2, playing and social interaction are key to social, language, and physical development…Kids learn by exploring their world, so if they’re sitting in front of the TV, what are they not doing?” While they don’t make specific reference to Cocomelon, the World Health Organization‘s guidelines on sedentary screen time for babies and toddlers recommend no screen time before age 2. The following table summarises the World Health Organization’s recommendation on sedentary screen time, physical activity, and sleep, for children younger than 5.

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Age Sedentary Screen Time Physical Activity Good Quality Sleep (Including Naps) 0–3 months ZERO screen time Tummy time 30 mins per day, spread throughout the day. 14-17 hours 3-12 months ZERO screen time Once mobile, interactive floor-based play. More is better. 12-16 hours 12-24 months ZERO screen time At least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, spread throughout the day. More is better. 11-14 hours 24-36 months Max 1 hour daily At least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, spread throughout the day. More is better. 11-14 hours 36-60 months Max 1 hour daily At least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities, of which 60 minutes is moderate-to-vigorous, spread throughout the day. More is better. 10-13 hours

Our Takeaway

Being a parent is demanding and often involves trade-offs. You shouldn’t feel guilty if you need to introduce a little screen time to allow you some sanity. But understanding the true ramifications will allow for more informed decisions. At best, watching TV takes time away from more productive activities. If you do decide to allow some screen time, opt for slow-paced, educational shows like Blue’s Clues or Dora the Explorer. Make the experience interactive by sitting with them, pointing things out, and talking. Just remember that kids learn best through play and so, like most things, moderation is key. Devlin Osprey I'm a father who's passionate about peeling children from their screens and encouraging real-world experiences. When I'm not writing about imaginative play or the latest academic research on screen time, you'll find me outdoors, reading and playing board games with my family.