Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my statement from yesterday and my priority mentioned today of early childhood education to the Minister of ECE.
Pediatricians in B.C. are ready to adopt the recommendation that children under the age of two not watch any television at all. This is already recommended by the pediatricians in the United States. Apparently problems that are linked to television viewing by the very young include obesity and an increase in violent activity, but, most importantly, two hours of screen time daily will cut brain development by an estimated 15 percent.
Now this is a remarkable report, quite recent, and it points out the need for strong communication with parents to inform them of the health risks and concerns. Is the Minister aware of this concern and is he notifying the public about this opportunity to support their children? Thank you