[blparent] Accessible apps

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Yes, we watch NetFlix and other shows on our phone after hours, smile.

My mom the teacher did a paper on this subject, and studies show that
kids under two can actually have brain damage if exposed to too much TV,
which includes computers and hand-held devices. There's the potential to
essentially scramble things, to put in lay-men's terms, and their
developing vision can't always handle the brightness and constant
flashing of images.

On top of this, it can lead to the digression of the imagination. This
has been pointed out in studies too, and it has the potential to also
contribute to obesity

In terms of learning, it's important children are exposed to all types
of learning at early ages. Visual, tactile and auditory skills should be
developed with tools and toys other than TV. Of course if a child can't
see or hear, then whatever is necessary to encourage different skills of
course applies. But simply relying on a screen of some sort to teach
things usually doesn't have the same, lasting affect real-life items
will have.

While I agree with all this, I'm merely speaking of information I have
heard and found from credible sources.

If a baby sees a TV for a bit it's not the end of the world, but babies
and kids who are purposefully sat down in front of screens especially
for prolonged times, it can definitely have lasting affects.

Bridgit
Message: 16
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:17:20 -0400
From: "Star Gazer" <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com>
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible apps
Message-ID: <002601ce2bbe$f6769430$e363bc90$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

My views are a bit different. 
My daughter would scream when the tv was on when she was a baby. I have
no idea why. We stopped watching tv for the most part due to that. 
There were still things we cared about, so we'd watch them on Netflix
when she was in bed. 
Those of you who know me know that I am very passionate about the space
program. I'd follow the shuttle missions and I'd tell my daughter what
was going on, because it's just plain cool. 
She had just turned two when STS 119 launched.  That mission is special
to me for a couple of reasons. First, I noticed my daughter paying
attention to me in a different way. She seemed to listen to me very
seriously when I'd talk about the mission. Second, my sister who never
really cared about the space program was very excited about one of the
teachers that was on that mission. He had done something with marine
biology and then became an astronaut. When my sister saw that, she
called me to say "That'd be like what would happen if I woke up one
morning and turned into you". It was the first and probably only space
shuttle mission my sister ever got excited
about:) 
Anyway, that mission was due to land right in the middle of naptime.  I
tried to get my daughter to sleep, and she made it clear that a nap
wasn't happening that day. So I told her she could stay up but that we
were going to watch the landing.  This is what we did. I explained to
her what was happening.  We watched on the NASA channel and there are
periods of silence when people aren't talking. I remember she would get
very excited when she'd hear the com loop and take my hand to place it
on the tv. 
She doesn't remember the landing at all.  What she does have is my same
passion for things that fly. 

I had no clue if my daughter would learn anything from watching that
landing.  I do know that it mattered to me, and I wanted to share it
with her. 
We watch other things now too, sports is a fun way to bond. She has a
few shows she likes, and I have a couple I like. 
I don't have any hard and fast rules about anything.  Kids are part of a
family and that involves exposure and sharing of the members' interests.
If there is nothing on tv that lights your fire, that's fine.  Your kid
will be fine either way.