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Like it or not, television and other media have become a part of our families' lives. According to parents involved in a recent study entitled 'Media in the Home 2000' our children are spending up to six and a half hours per day 'connected' in some way to various media.
The term 'media' refers to all that is communicated via the written, spoken or viewed message. This includes books, newspapers, magazines, radio programs, music CD's, television, videos, computer programs, Internet and the telephone.
Our children are not only using this media - they are 'multi-tasking' or using several forms of media at a time. It is not unusual to see them accessing information on the Internet, while talking on the phone with the television on in the background. The truth is - our children have adapted to the new technology remarkably well, and they are becoming increasingly more comfortable with technology that as parents we never dreamed could exist! In this regard, it is important to realize that technology is neither good nor bad. It is merely a tool to be used by individuals to access information, communicate with others, and be entertained.
We must give our children the practical and thinking skills to understand, interpret and deal with the media world they live in. We want our children to learn to watch carefully, think critically and navigate safely as they explore media. The information in TV&ME for Parents will provide you with some information and tools to help you with this task.
The key point we need to consider when thinking about media is that everything we read, listen to or view has been constructed or created. For example, the content of a television program is constructed or formed by producers and technicians in order to have us interpret the television program in a certain way. At the same time, while the form of the media or the way it is constructed contributes to how we interpret the message, ultimately, the decision of interpretation is up to us. This is where watching carefully, thinking critically and navigating safely comes in.
If we can help our children to understand what goes on 'behind the scenes' to construct various forms of media for the audience, we will all be in a much better position to help them analyze the messages and interpret the information, all in an effort to help ourselves and our children become 'media and life wise'.
To view Concerned Children's Advertisers television commercials, produced to assist children in making wise media and life choices, visit http://adult.cca-kids.ca/comm/series.htm.
We hope you find TV&ME useful and as always, we welcome your feedback. Be sure to email
us with your comments at info@cca-kids.ca.
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