Media Literacy Online Project - Serving Educators Around The World
Media Literacy Review
Center for Advanced Technology in Education - College of Education - University of Oregon - Eugene
 
What Parents Can Do
Viewing Television with Children

  1. Start early to develop good viewing habits.

  2. Develop planned viewing with specific programs. Talk about why you think some shows are better than others.

  3. Seek out programs which were made for kids your child's age. Guide your child's choices to appropriate media. You can begin to do this by offering your child a choice among several media you already prefer.

  4. If possible, have a TV viewing area separate from where the regular family functions occur. If not, consider covering the TV when not in use.

  5. Differentiate between "make believe: and real life situations with younger children. When they see disturbing news items, explain to them that tragedies occur in real life, but that they are safe. Not talking about tragedy, or saying that "everything will be all right," can contribute to a child's anxiety.

  6. Don't let kids use TV as an excuse for not participating in other activities. Encourage your child to exercise and do hands- on activities like folkcrafts, cooking, family games, etc.

  7. Help kids use "alone time" for other purposes than just viewing whatever happens to be on TV.

  8. Use sensitive TV themes to open up discussion opportunities. These are good times to talk about your own family's beliefs and values.

  9. Expose deception in TV advertising.

  10. Discuss ads which emphasize heavy sugar snack foods. Discourage eating in front of the television.

  11. Read to your child.

Many of the same skills can be used to regulate computer game use, music listening and other media at home. Wise use of media is a skill that can be fostered early on and is best set through your own example. Excerpt from Media & You: An Elementary Media Literacy Curriculum by Donna Lloyd- Kolkin and Kathleen Tyner. Copyright 1991 Kathleen Tyner and Educational Technology Publications. Reprinted permission of authors.