This morning, you won’t find me at home. Nope. Not gonna be here.
This morning I’ll be a bit north of here, speaking to a group of moms about media literacy, something I’m passionate about. It’s so crucial for us, as parents, to help our kids understand that there is a message behind all forms of media, from TV to music to movies to this blog. Helping our kids learn to ascertain what that message is, who’s behind it, and to think through whether or not they agree with it is a powerful gift we can give them. I strongly suggest starting now!
With that in mind, here’s my list of the Top 8 Things You Can Do Now to Help Your Child Develop Media Literacy:
- Take the time to articulate your family’s values & beliefs. Display them in a prominent place in your home. Teach your kids to base their decisions on these values.
- If there’s a TV in your child’s bedroom, take it out. If not, keep it that way! This isn’t just me—it’s a recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Watch TV or listen to music with your child. Talk about what you see and hear. Keep them actively thinking, rather than passively watching or listening.
- Encourage your kids to learn more about who and what is behind the shows or music they enjoy.
- Allow older kids more input and let them make mistakes. If you permit them to watch or listen to something you disagree with, discuss it afterwards. Respect your children’s opinion. Sometimes we need to agree to disagree. But, as parents, we also have the right to insist that kids respect our family’s values.
- Watch movies together that spark discussions. Nell Minow suggests some in her book, The Movie Mom’s Guide to Family Movies. So does Bob Smithouser in Movie Nights: 25 Movies to Spark Spiritual Discussions With Your Teen. Find one you like & use it – we’re not on our own here.
- Put your computer in a prominent spot in your home. Use a good parental filter.
- Be a good role model. Our kids know what we read and watch, and how much time we spend online or on the couch gazing at the TV. They know when we live our family values, too.
This a.m. one of the moms in my yoga class said that last night, her 8th grader had started a FB group calling her asst principal a “p3nis-head.” ACK!!! Thank goodness the parents found out and were able to talk to the girl about the permanence of the Internet, etc.!
I like #8…that’s a good one to remember…so true.