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Media Threat to Child DevelopmentHow TV & Video Games can Affect ChildrenSitting for hours in front of a games console or TV can be damaging to children. How to monitor and manage what your child is being exposed to.
Many parents, worried by the gang culture that has invaded our streets, are too afraid to let their children roam. Indoor entertainments such as the television, DVDs and video games can often be seen as a safer form of entertainment. However, do you know what influences your child is being exposed to through such media? Are you happy that your child is being affected by a value system that is not your own? For example, are you aware that computerised games may contain:
Knowing in advance which games, TV shows and movies are suitable for our children can help parents choose wisely. Information for the ParentCommonsense Media is an organisation that provides reviews on games, TV shows, movies and other media. Their aim is to help parents to be able to separate the good from the bad. Their web site allows adults and kids to read or create reviews about what is going on in the media. Their manifesto is to help parents become more aware of the dangers posed by unsupervised viewing and spending too long on the games console. For example, they state: "Using media can affect children's alertness in school and lead to lower grades. The average child sees over 40,000 commercials a year . Kids have become a prime target for marketers By the time kids enter middle school, they have seen 8,000 murders ... on broadcast TV alone. Commonsense Media is offering a guide to parents entitled "Keeping Kids Healthy in a 24/7 Media World". This is a downloadable PDF File that covers such topics as violence and aggression, addictive behaviour, social and emotional health, along with guidance for the parent on how to teach their children to use media wisely. Some chilling facts from Commonsense Media's web site:
Children and The Media BookletAnother resource that is available from the UK is the publication Children and the Media. This booklet can be obtained by contacting Media March on their web site or by phoning 0208 467 6452. They are also doing a post-card campaign in order to lobby Members of Parliament about parents’ concerns. References:Howard Condor, Revelation TV, Interview with Miranda Suit of Media March. 09.07.2008
The copyright of the article Media Threat to Child Development in Parenting Methods is owned by Christine Fadhley. Permission to republish Media Threat to Child Development in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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