Fill It Up Friday- Screen Time
Fill it up Friday
Each Friday we will look at an article to fill up on the whys of teaching.
Today we are going to look at an article that touches on a
subject that impacts all of us- screen time.
I am shocked by the amount of time the average child in my school is
sitting in front of a screen. They not
only watch television at home but now there are shows and games on phones,
televisions mounted in the car, tablets, and computers that are accessible
nearly 24/7.
In the NAEYC publication, Beyond the Remote-Controlled
Childhood, Dianne Levin addresses some topics that we encounter daily with
our children. One of my favorite terms
that she puts forth is "age compression." This is a term that labels something that
many of us have been watching for years. Levin states, "age compression is
a term used by media professionals and marketers to describe how children at
ever-younger ages are doing what older children used to do (pg 33)." WOW!
How many of us have thought that 3 year old was acting 10 or that 5 year
old was acting 15? Now we have a term to
help define this.
Levin outlines the multitude of changes that occur from
children being exposed to media including difficulties in play, creativity,
problem solving, and empathy. These are fundamental changes to how our
children view and interact with the world they live in.
Not only does she provide evidence that the overt influence of
media on our children is literally changing the trajectory of their growth, but
she provides examples of things to send home to parents. While we can't as educators change what the
parents value and how they choose to raise their child, we can give them
information and support.
Many parents are not aware of the damaging effects media has
on our youngest children. Companies
spend big bucks trying to convince parents that their babies can read or become
little Einsteins. As educators it is our
job not to judge, but to empower parents
to make choices based on knowledge, not convenience.
It shocks many parents when I tell them that the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO screen time for children two and under. How much screen time are the little ones in
your care exposed to? What changes have
you seen in your children due to this exposure?
Have an article you’d like to share? Let me know!
I am so interested in reading more about this. I have had an interesting year with my second grade girls and their social behavior. It resembles behavior that the other teachers and normally see in older students.
ReplyDeleteHave you read the book? I can get a discount as a NAEYC member. I will send you a copy if you want.
ReplyDelete