Question: What advice do you have for parents when they say that their child is watching Miss Rachel when the child is under 2? Do we recommend it’s okay because it’s educational?

 

Who is Ms. Rachel?  

Ms. Rachel is a popular YouTube influencer who makes videos for infants and young children. She has masters degrees in early childhood development and music education and often guides youth through sing-along activities with a focus on developing stronger speech, language, and social emotional skills.  

Although there is no published research on Ms. Rachel videos, her approach does include several elements that help young children learn from media, like having clear learning goals, no “bells and whistles” that distract from learning, teaching in a way young children understand (for example, pausing and letting children respond), and involving parents.   

Without other research specifically on Ms. Rachel to guide us, let’s take a look at what research tells us about media use among kids under 2 years old in general.  

Recommendations for media use for children under 2 

Because infants do not learn from media in the same way they do from hands-on exploration and social interaction, and the delays that have been linked to excessive use, we agree with the 2016 AAP recommendations that it would be wise to keep infant viewing of Ms. Rachel to no more than one hour per day, and to make sure infants are getting lots of other time for exploration, singing, talking, and being read to. Co-viewing, or watching Ms. Rachel with their parent/caregiver, would also offer the best skill building opportunities.  

What are the concerns about screen use under age 2?  

Inability to translate media to real life knowledge 

Research shows that before 18-24 months of age, infants can’t learn from screens the same way they do from hands-on exploration and social interaction with parents/caregivers due to a “video deficit.” Because of their developing symbolic, memory, and attentional skills, it may be hard for infants to translate media they see on a computer screen to knowledge they can use in real life. 

However, research does demonstrate that well-designed educational content like Sesame Street may enhance cognitive, literacy, and social outcomes for children aged 3-5. In addition, meta-analyses show that watching higher quality educational programs in early childhood is linked with better language outcomes, not developmental delays.   

Displacement or crowding out 

We also think about media use for this age group in terms of what other activities it’s replacing, or crowding out, especially during such an important developmental period.   

Studies have linked higher screen use for children under age 2 with delays in language, social communication skills, cognition, sleep problems, and less physical activity. (For more details about these studies, see our prior posts about early childhood screen use). 

Ads matter too.  

In addition to content, it’s important to examine how advertisements on YouTube might affect infants. Ads on YouTube are commonly placed as banners on videos or placed on the sidebar on the screen. They can also stream before one of Ms. Rachel's videos begins. Children’s attention may move to an ad instead of maintaining focus on Ms. Rachel’s content, leading them to reap fewer benefits from the video.  

Common Sense Media’s Young Kids and YouTube: How Ads, Toys, and Games Dominate Viewing analyzed data from 1,639 YouTube videos watched by 0- to 8-year-olds. Researchers found that: 

  • Advertising was present in 95% of early childhood videos. 
  • One in five videos had inappropriate ads (e.g. featured violent video games, sexual content, drugs/alcohol, political issues).  
  • About 45% of videos promoted products for purchase – 22% of these videos were deemed “high in consumerism” for endorsing certain toys. YouTubers often promoted their own products or commonly featured branded merchandise.  
Co-viewing educational content 

According to the AAP, beginning around 15 months of age, the primary driver in boosting infants’ learning from media is having a caregiver or parent watching with them, emphasizing specific points and teaching them through the content.  

Tips for pediatricians 

  • In addition to encouraging parents to co-view Ms. Rachel with their infants, check with them to ensure that these videos aren’t the only way kids are calming down. Singing, taking a walk outside, and reading time with caregivers are some of many calming strategies. 
  • Ask what other activities (both educational and recreational) children are interested in. Make sure that their screen time isn’t crowding out play time and time spent outside. 
  • Help parents build a Family Media Plan in order to construct predictable routines around media, better communicating what times of day and types of content children are allowed to watch. 
  • Educate parents/caregivers about brain development in early childhood and the significance of open-ended play that isn’t in front of a screen.  
Helpful resources 

View our past related portal questions! 

 

Age: 2 

Topics: Miss Rachel, watching TV under 2 years old/in infancy, screen time under 2 years, educational TV, co-viewing 

Role: Clinician 

 

Last Updated

10/04/2024

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics