Will TV help my Child Develop Language?

In general, TV can help your child enhance their language if parents make sure that their children have the basic language skills needed to understand the language presented on TV and direct their viewing to programs that are language-rich.

First, make sure that the language content of the program is at an appropriate level for your child. Children need to have the language before the TV show can reinforce it or expand it. Children learn by listening and encouraged active participation. Children need to hear words a lot before they will start using them. This is why programs that are predictable, repetitive and the vocabulary is at the 12 - 18 month old level (e.g., teletubbies) are enjoyed by toddlers. If you would like your preschool child to enjoy and learn from shows with higher language skills (e.g., "Franklin" or "Arthur"), it is best to read them stories with these characters first and sit down and watch a few episodes with your child talking about the program while it is on and after it has finished.