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Comment by giarc | Hacker News Reader

I wonder if a TV show with static images and spoken words would still induce the zombie like behaviour of kids? Would this be more beneficial over animation?

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Its a mildly interesting question but if you want to know whats best its a parent reading to a child because there is an emotional dialogue on top of the reading. Listening to radio or any other passive reception of a signal replayed is nothing compared to live performance by a human that can react to the now (e.g. if the kid finds something funny you can slow down and enjoy the moment etc.).

And to add to this, very young children specifically want attention from their parents. It's good to give it to them. Whatever you are doing can probably wait 10 to 15 years for them to no longer want to monopolize your time.

Amen to this. Raising children is the most important job you are ever likely to do and you will never regret devoting time to it.

Who has ever said from their deathbed, "I wish I had spent less time with my kids"? They're only children once. They change so fast and it will be the biggest regret of your life if you miss it.

This is what reading rainbow was. It’s more engaging than animation.

YouTube is full of these, typically targeted as vocabulary learning for infants.

In the UK, the BBC runs a program like this. People read kids stories and they show the static images from the book.

I believe that also was (is?) the format of Reading Rainbow.

Sorry to say this but that sounds like radio? Though also there are audio books nowadays.

The article says that audio alone causes kids to struggle harder with understanding. The whole point of what he is asking is to meet in the middle where kids can understand and get the most out of the media.

Bingo - I have a 3 year old and the effect TV has on them is astonishing... complete trance. We read books every night and she gets really engaged and remembers very specific details weeks later.

As every parent can attest to, there are just times when putting a kid in front of a TV is helpful (airplane rides, when caring for other children, when you need a break etc) so it would be nice to retain some brain activity, or as you say, meet in the middle.

Your radio has pictures?

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