Tips for a Healthy Media Diet

Do you know media's impact?

The facts: Kids spend over 44 hours per week with media

  • 61% of children 0-1 years old use screen media in a typical day
  • 66% of kids 8-18 years old have a TV in their bedroom
  • Most teens spend 30 minutes a day instant messaging
  • 55% of online teens have a social networking profile like Facebook or MySpace

Use media together and talk about what you see, hear, and read.

Whenever you can, watch, play, listen, and surf with your kids. Talk about the content. When you can’t be there, ask them about the media they’ve used. Practice media literacy – help kids question and analyze media messages by sharing your values. Let them know how you feel about solving problems with violence, stereotyping people, selling products using sex or cartoon characters, or advertising to kids in schools or movie theaters. Help kids connect what they learn in the media to events and other activities in which they’re involved, like playing sports and creating art, in order to broaden their understanding of the world.

Be a role model.

When kids are around, set an example by using media the way you want them to use it. Don't bring cell phones and Blackberries to the dinner table, turn the TV off when it's not actively being watched. Use a VCR or TiVo™ to record shows that may be inappropriate for your kids to watch – even the news – and watch them at a later time when kids are not around.

Keep an eye on the clock

Media is fun and our kids love it. But kids can have too much of a good thing. Keep an eye on how long kids spend online, in front of the TV, watching movies, playing video games. The secret to healthy media use is to establish time limits and stick to them -- before your kids turn on and tune in.

When is it OK for kids to get a TV in their bedroom?

There is 1 community opinion on this topic:

Join in on the discussion

Login or register to post comments
Posted by Lisa P on 11/30/2008 (adult contributor)

Media has a great effect to us especially on children. Some say that kids who often watch tv have a high risk to become obese. Nowadays, obesity is one of the main problems in America. Obesity and diabetes are some of the major health issues we see. Both are, no doubt, on the rise among both adults and children. Some people have just taken for granted their health because they are busy in their everyday work. On the other hand, there are some people that whenever they are sick they refuse to seek for medication because of having a short budget. But when are we going to cure our self? If we would just set aside our health problem we are putting our self into risk. In addition to that, it can also leave a major strain on your budget. If you are unable to cover those unexpected doctor bills, payday installment loans can get you the immediate cash you need to accommodate you on your journey to recovery. Click here to read more about personal loans