Overstimulation = Slow Brain Waves

My pet peeve is scientists who use the term
overstimulating when discussing the deleterious
effects of TV on small children.

“The rapidly changing images and sounds of
television, even in educational children’s
programming, are certainly mesmerizing to
young children but can be *overstimulating*,
scientists say.”

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2001895819_tvhurtskids05m.html

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that
the AAP and various scientist have come out
against the new Baby Einstein and other
videos and even tv channels for babies.

The problem is that parents are well aware
that it is very important for brain development
for their kids to be in a stimulating environment.
So when scientist use the term “overstimulation
from TV” as a criticism of TV, it almost sounds
like a compliment. Stimulation is good, shouldn’t
more be better?

I really think that if scientists came out and
said that the problem with exposure of TV to
young developing minds is that the “rapidly
changing images and sounds of television”
*cause their children’s brainwaves to slow
down*, that TV in effect under-stimulates a
child’s brain, that would have a much greater
impact.

And Scientific American:

Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor

For more on TV slowing down the brain see:

http://www.tvsmarter.com/documents/alpha.html