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!