Webcast

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Thank you for participating in our Webcast on November 18, 2009.  We didn’t have time to answer everyone’s questions, so we have divided the remaining questions into categories so that we can provide the additional information that viewers requested.

Brain Research:

Here is a list of recommended reading for parents and teachers who want to review or learn more about brain development in the first three years:

• Eliot, L.  (1999). What’s going on in there?  How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life.  Bantam Books: New York, NY.
• Shonkoff, J.P., & Phillips, D. (Eds.) (2000). From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 
• National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2004). Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships: Working Paper No. 1. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu
• National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2004). Children’s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of their Brains: Working Paper No. 2. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University: Core Concepts in the Science of Early Childhood Development http://developingchild.harvard.edu/library/multimedia/interactive_features/coreconcepts

 Autism Spectrum Disorders:

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment is very good resource for those interested in learning more: 

http://www.asatonline.org

Other useful resources:

• American Academy of Pediatrics — www.medicalhomeinfo.org/health/autism.html
• Association for Science in Autism Treatment — www.asatonline.org
• Autism Society of America – www.autism-society.org
• Autism Speaks – www.autismspeaks.org
• CDC’s Autism Information Center – www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism
• National Institute of Mental Health – www.nimh.nih.gov

 Television and Early Childhood:

The link below is to the original article in which the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television viewing for children under 2 years of age, as such activities have no proven benefit.  Their concern is that television viewing might interfere with activities known to support healthy development, such as playing, interacting, and talking with caregivers. 

They also discuss appropriate guidelines for media viewing for children aged 2-5, including:

1. Limit children’s total media time (with entertainment media) to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day.
2. Remove television sets from children’s bedrooms.
3. Monitor the shows children and adolescents are viewing. Most programs should be informational, educational, and nonviolent.
4. View television programs along with children, and discuss the content.
5. Encourage alternative entertainment for children, including reading, athletics, hobbies, and creative play.

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3B107/2/423

Thank you for your questions!

We are pleased that our webcast sparked so many great questions in so many different areas.  In the upcoming months, we will post articles addressing two other topics that were brought up: Sleep practices for infants, and exposure to a second language.