No television for infants under three, experts say
Parents should forbid children under three years old from watching TV or else their intelligence might be stunted, a group of child development activists advised yesterday.
Assoc Prof Sairuedee Worrakijphokhathorn cited a study that found that watching television made the intelligence quotient (IQ) of pre-school children aged from two to six dip below 88 - a worrying level. Sairuedee told a seminar at the Culture Ministry that the downward trend of IQs had made activists like her feel discouraged. "That's because IQ levels remain low whenever we measure them in Thai children," she said. An expert on brain development among young children, she said TV helped pre-schoolers develop bad behavioural habits, such as materialism, violent tendencies and inability to differentiate between truth and fiction. She called on TV producers to respect basic rules aimed at enhancing the intelligence of young viewers, while striving for quality content in their shows. The seminar drew parents' groups, the ministry and the Public Relations Department to find a way to improve shows on local channels. Permanent secretary Weera Rojphojjanarat said alerts about improper content in TV shows could be sent by SMS to 486-3333 or via the Media Evaluation System website at www.me.or.th.
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