Parents urged to keep pre-schoolers from watching TV

BARNEY may be a blessing and Dora just adorable but parents are being urged to think twice before they allow their pre-schoolers to watch the antics of their favourite TV characters.

French broadcasting authorities have moved to discourage children under three from seeing television there and some experts in Ireland believe it is time a similar stand was taken here.

The move in France comes amid growing evidence that exposure to television too early delays intellectual and emotional development in young children with potentially lifelong consequences — even when the programmes are made specifically with babies and toddlers in mind.