Parenting and Media

“Social media networks are the primary way young people communicate and their main channel to the outside world, but they are seeing the world through a filter and that’s not healthy.” -Caroline Nokes, member of British Parliament

Developmental Issues or Milestones

Media Stats

• Average child < age 2 has 1+ hours of media per day, 2+ hours per day for 2 year olds
• Children spend anywhere from 4-8 hours with media each day
• 11-18 year olds spend an average of 11 hours using media each day
• 60% of families have 3+ televisions in their home
• what they understand at certain ages etc.

“Technology in and of itself is neither inherently good nor bad. Rather, the purposes accomplished with and through technology are the ultimate indicators of goodness or badness.” – Elder David A. Bendar

AAP Guidelines for Children as of 2016

• For children under 18 months, avoid screen time other than video chatting
• Children 18-24 months, choose high quality programming and watch it with your children so they understand what they’re seeing (30 min – 1 hour)
• Children 2-5, limit screen time to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view and help children understand
• For children 6+, place consistent limits on media time and content, make sure it doesn’t take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, and other essential health behaviors
• Designate media-free times together (dinner, driving), as well as media-free locations in  the home (bedroom) – media is a privilege in public location.
• Have ongoing communication about online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offline – if you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t say online.

Media Content 

• 73% of programs contain violence in which the perpetrator neither displayed remorse nor received any penalty
• Violence is rampant in children’s programming, and is often couched in humor
• By the time the average child is 18 years old, he or she will witness 200,000 media-portrayed acts of violence, including 40,000 murders
  • Psychological numbing.
• Sexual media is associated with permissive sexual attitudes and earlier sexual debut
• Don’t forget music often has just as bad messages in it as other media

Media Effects on Children

• Educational media is associated with increased academic achievement and literacy
  • There are better types of media, media can help develop their interests
• Prosocial media is associated with more sympathy and prosocial behavior
  • Disney movies have very high amounts of prosocial behavior
  • Prosocial violence is the worst show to let your kids watch. (super hero movies)
• Heavy media use is associated with lower attention and academic achievement
• Violent media is associated with aggression, long and short-term (causes violence in children – still impacts adults in some ways)
• Advertising of cigarettes and drugs is associated with smoking/drinking

Tecnoference: when individual media use interferes with relationships

This is a new area of research, but early findings suggest that using media is associated with lower relationship satisfaction for couples

Parents who are more absorbed in their media tend to respond to their children harshly

“’Be where you are when you are there. When you are driving, drive. When you are in class, focus on the lesson. When you are with your friends, give them the gift of your attention.” – Elder Ridd

Concerns or Issues with Parenting and Media

1. There are so many things to consider when it comes to media and parenting. What kind of rules should I set as a parent for my children?
2. With so much media content that is negative, how can I use media as a parent to bless my family?

Addressing Concerns or Issues

1. All media can have an effect on our children. Music, books, social networking etc, we need to stay on top of it. I feel like this is one of the most important things that my husband and I are on the same page with when it comes to implementing rules. It is definitely ok to say no to media. We should strive to set rules early and stick with them. There are several rules that we can set to protect our family and develop good media habits. *See the AAP Guidelines above for more ideas.

Possible Rules to Consider

• NO media in the bedroom, have a media curfew
• Turn off the TV (background media)
• Mom and dad are going to monitor, monitor, monitor media use in the family
• There are other alternatives to media if a child is bored – try coloring books, bouncy chair, etc.
  • Also, better types of media, help them develop other interests
• Consider allowing them to watch .5-1 hr of media for every hour of exercise, being outside, reading etc (Walker, lecture 19).
• Children often have nightmares, it is important to stop TV 30 min before bedtime
• No media before age 2 (Walker, lecture 10).

With these rules in mind we need to make sure that we explain to them why we make certain types of media choices or have rules on media. In reference to how other people view or use media, explain why we believe vs. why they may believe. We should also limit cocooning as children get older, they need to learn to make good choices when it comes to media. Help them use their autonomy to make good choices.

2. I love Elder Bednar’s quote about media and the internet because it reminds us that there are good things to take advantage of as individuals and families. He states:

“Technology in and of itself is neither inherently good nor bad. Rather, the purposes accomplished with and through technology are the ultimate indicators of goodness or badness.” – Elder David A. Bendar

Research, as stated in class, shows that family media use can strengthen the family and individual, but individual media use can detract (see tecnoference above). All things in moderation! We should use media together to promote connection.

Teach them media literacy through discussion. Help them be critical thinkers and what is going on behind the screen or what the message is. We can do this through pre-arming and co-watching.

Cocooning (Restrictive)

• You may not watch the Family Guy
• Definitely things that are appropriate to cocoon (porn – filters)

Pre-arming (Active)

• Do you think the toy in that commercial is really as fun as they make it look? 
• Self generated compromises –
• Explain the reasons why – teach them media literacy

Co-Watching/Playing (Passive)

• Let’s watch a movie together – seen as passive consent if something bad happens (sex, violence etc) It is ok, if you talk about it (this is more prearming) just don’t be passive about it.

Co-Use (Connective)

• Can I be your Facebook friend?

Other Parenting Tips

• Check ratings on media (effects of video games rated T and above are more negative)
• Ratings for media: www.commonsensemedia.org
• Help your children be active consumers of media – discuss media and its effects with them (before and after media exposure)

3.

Reference unless otherwise sited/linked:

• Walker, L. Class lecture 19: Parenting and Media, School of Family Life 240: Parent Child Guidance, Winter 2017