19 Nov 2008
At Children's Way and Woogi World, we're concerned about some very serious trends surrounding media and technology in this country:
- TV, video, and the computer are now our national babysitters. Children are spending many hours every day in front of some sort of screen. The problem? A young child's growing mind needs active play, ESPECIALLY in nature, and live conversation. "Screening" (spending time in front of TV, computer, and cell phone screens) puts a child into what neurologists call the ‘passive Alpha state.' A child can't learn from screens -- data on screens is meant to indoctrinate and sell products, not teach. And over the long haul, it's degrading their imaginations.
- Too much screen time is being linked to learning disabilities, attention deficiency, speech defects, aggressive behavior, obesity, and nature deficit disorder.
- An imbalance in time spent "screening" is turning kids into passive followers and consumers.
So here's the question: Who's in charge here? It's time parents got assertive and actually managed their children's media diets -- the content, its accessibility, and the amount -- just like we manage their meals. Leisure media time should be used as a snack, not a main course, and interspersed with unstructured play outside in nature. Bottom line: technology is meant to enhance life, not BE life.
All this said, here are some suggestions from Children's Way and Woogi World that can put YOU in control and your child in a more balanced state of living:
- Establish and follow ground rules: Consider doing schoolwork first, outside play next, then a small amount of screen time. Make children's bedrooms off limits to screen media.
- Model the behavior you want. Kids imitate, so be sure they see YOU maintaining balance. Orchestrate outside activities so your children can fall in love with nature. We can't love what we don't know.
- No TV, laptop gazing or cell texting during meals. Media was never meant to be a condiment.
- Use guidelines and ratings. A reliable source of media information is the Parents' Choice Foundation. Their purpose: to review children's media.
- Spend media time together -- watch what they watch and laugh and learn together. Play a video game with them, browse the Internet together. Show them where they're allowed to go, not just where they're not. And that leads to the final suggestion:
- Take them to Woogi World for great instruction on Internet safety and the opportunity to enhance their character and learn BALANCE. We motivate kids with points and prizes to get OFF line and back into the real world, improving academics, serving in the community, exploring interests, and playing outside.
We all know parents weren't meant to win popularity contests, and it's a sure bet you'll be unpopular for awhile when you take control of the media reins. Show your kids who's in charge -- give them some balance and they'll be healthier and happier in the long run!
 Alice Osborne has seven children, a BA from BYU, almost an MA from George Wythe College and a best-selling book on clutter and streamlining, It's Here...Somewhere. She's a former grade-school and college teacher, hospital commissioner, and spokesperson for the American Paper Recycling Institute. Alice is co-founder of the national women's conference THE FRONT PORCH and currently works as the Public Relations Director for the national non-profit organization, Children's Way, which helps families stay balanced and protected from Internet addictions. |
