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Many parents today worry about the effect the media has on their children. Children are exposed to advertisements that promote a specific body image, movies and television shows that promote unhealthy eating, and entertainment and video games that seem to promote violence. While many parents blame poor childhood behavior on the media, savvy parents know that making their children media smart is the best way to insure that children grow up healthy and happy, no matter what the media around them is creating.
Developing media smarts in children begins at home. Parents can help by:
- Reducing the amount of time children are exposed to the media. Television, video games, movies, and other visual entertainment can be fun and even educational, but children who spend lots of time in front of the television simply absorb more -- including more of the negative messages being sent -- than children who lead a more balanced life. Balancing television watching and videogame playing with the reading, drawing, and physical activity is healthier for the child both physically and mentally.
- Monitoring media exposure. Parents have a right and obligation to ensure that their children are not exposed to harmful media messages. This can mean removing Internet access and cable television from a child's room. A child who watches television with his or her parents can always discuss what they are seeing with grown-ups. This is far less confusing for childhood than watching the images and trying to make sense of them by themselves. This also allows parents to ensure that their children are not watching excessively adult or violent programming by themselves.
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Talk about the media. Even young children can be made to understand make-believe, while older children can be told about the ways that media work. With your child, discuss the role of advertising, sensationalism, and other things that make up the media. Discuss what your child watches and how some of the images seen may incorrectly create a skewed perception of reality. For example, if your child watches a television show with gun violence, discuss the ways that gun violence is cleaned up in television. Ask the child whether guns are really so safe that they can be fired off in a room with no one hurt.
If you want a child-friendly environment for your child with a sensible approach to media, consider Robin's Nest Child Care. Children at Robins Nest Child Care are given the tools they need to succeed in life and are also give a range of activities to engage in so that their childhood is balanced.
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