What I can do to make the media do not have a negative influence on my child?
is difficult to understand the world of adolescents without considering the great impact of media on their lives. It competes with the families, friends, schools and communities in their ability to shape the interests, attitudes and values \u200b\u200bof adolescents.
The mass media are constantly present in their lives. Most adolescents watch TV and movies, using the Internet, exchange e-mails, listen to CDs and radio stations that will target them with music and announcements commercials and read articles and advertisements in teen magazines.
First, look on the bright side. New communication technologies can be fun and exciting. Used wisely, they can also educate. Good television programs can tell, good music can comfort, and good movies can expand interests and open new horizons. Additionally, many forms of media used in the classroom, computers, cable television and VCRs are already an integral part of education. In fact, in recent years has been an effort to connect every classroom to the Internet and provide a minimum number of computers in each classroom for student use. As a result, children should be exposed to the media, at least to know how to use them.
American children spend more time with media than with their schoolwork.
The problem is that teens often do not know how or can not distinguish between what is good in the media and what is harmful. Some spend countless hours watching TV and plugged into their headphones passively eating everything they see and hear-violence, sex, cursing, stereotypes and characters and stories totally unrealistic. We know from studies such as the George Comstock and Erica went Sherrer that watching too much violence on television appears to increase aggressive behavior in children and the frequent exposure to violence makes this less surprising and easier to accept.
Students report they watch more television than their peers generally have lower grades in school and score worse on standardized tests. "In any discussion we have in the classroom is very obvious who watch more TV than others," explains teacher Sherry Tipps. "Students with less motivation in the classroom, tell them a program TV and suddenly perk up. "
As teens mature, high levels of television, electronic games and computer use results in an accumulation of negative consequences. American children spend more time with media communication with their school work. The seventh graders, for example, spend an average of 135 minutes a day watching TV and 57 minutes doing homework.
addition to the negative psychological and academic, there are bad effects physically. According to recent studies by the Surgeon General of the United States, the number of overweight teens in the country has increased dramatically over the past two decades. Being overweight can contribute to many serious medical conditions such as diabetes.
Other negative influences in the media. For example, we have recently seen an increase in the number of ads in magazines, including ads for harmful products such as alcohol and snuff, which are aimed specifically at teenagers.
Your child will benefit from your advice to help balance the activities related to the media with other activities such as reading, talking with family and spending time with friends. Here are some tips on how help your child choose wisely how to use the media:
- Limit the time your child watches television. is impossible to completely protect your child from the media. If you completely prohibits television, will only make you appear more attractive than ever. But some parents do prohibit the TV during the week, with some exceptions that have been agreed beforehand.
Remember that it is easier to restrict bad choices if you say no before your child brings home CDs or computer games insists offensive or watch TV excessively violent. Let him know that you have intend to monitor what they choose to see or hear.
- Monitor what your child sees and hears. Former principal Carole Kennedy advised, "Do not just on the volume of the music, listen to the lyrics too." Learn about TV shows and movies that interest your child, you want to play electronic games and music they want to hear. If you are knowledgeable about the interests of your child, you enter into his world with ease and can talk to them with greater knowledge and power. Ask groups or singers you enjoy listening. Read about your favorite artists in magazines or listen to your music on the radio or CD.
You can also watch or listen to your child. So you can spend time with him and to learn more about the programs, games and music that he likes. Talk about what they are seeing and hearing.
- Suggest TV programs you want to see. Encourage your child to watch TV programs on a variety of topics, nature, travel, history, science, biography and news, as well as programs to entertain. The News and history programming for example, can encourage conversations about world events, national and local policy, problems social and health concerns.
- Talk to your child about the difference between facts and opinions. Teens should learn that not everything they see and hear is not necessarily true. Tell the TV show or movie you have seen, the radio or the music he listens to and reads like the magazine, have a particular viewpoint. Talk about how the media promote certain ideas or beliefs, which may not agree with their values. If your child wants to watch, listen or read something that you believe is inappropriate, let them know exactly why you disagree.
- Talk to your child about misleading ads. Teens are very susceptible to advertising. Talk to your children about the purpose of the ad-selling products, and how to judge whether the advertised products are suitable for him. For example, if your daughter has short hair, curly blonde, ask if you really think the $ 15 shampoo that he wants to purchase will result in long hair, dark and smooth, like the model in the magazine.
- Consider purchasing a "V-chip for your TV or a filter for your computer. A V-chip is a machine that puts you to filter TV programs according to their classification-X R, or PG and blocks pornographic, excessively violent or otherwise unsuitable for minors. There are also these filters to prevent your child from visiting certain Web sites on your computer. Most of these filters are free or cost a lot.
- Talk to your child about the risks you take when you enter "chat rooms" electronic. Make sure your child know the dangers of "talk" electronically with a stranger. There is software that prevents the use of these talks when children while allowing them to use the computer for other purposes.
- Talk to other parents. If you talk about movies, TV shows, games and CDs with the parents of your child's friends, you will have more authority to say no when she wants to see or hear something inappropriate. You can discover very quickly that not all seventh graders are allowed to see the latest film rated "R" which includes scenes of blood and extreme violence.
- Provide alternatives to media entertainment. According to teacher Bill Gangl, "If you give them enough activities, the TV goes away." Given the opportunity, many children would rather do than just watch. A day at the miniature golf course or visiting a friend can be more interesting than another night watching TV.
- Set a good example. If a teenager sees his parents paralyzed in front of the TV or checking your email while rushing to dinner, definitely going to capture a clear message. Parents who turn off the TV or computer and engage in good conversation, sports, games or other activities are showing by example other entertainment options. A modern teenager might ask "what was done before there was television (or computer and video games)?" Demonstrate by!
