Protecting kids from the effects of media violence..

With this months Ensign they included a copy of the Deseret News and the Church News.  The articles were very interesting to read.  One in particular caught my eye and so I wanted to include it on our blog.  Protecting kids from the effects of media violence!!  I wanted to give you the highlights that I thought were an eye opener and may be meaningful to you. 

Age 8 is when children can understand the differences between fantasy and reality,

making younger children far more susceptible to cartoon violence.

200,000 is the number of violent acts that the average young person

will have viewed on television by age 18.

90% of PG films contain violence.

Sources:  American Academy of Pediatrics,

University of Pittsburgh,

Office of Child Development.

Recommendation:  Parents need to have differnt stances with different children at different ages.  Parents need to know what young school-aged children (5-13) are doing.  Parents need to actually monitor them with what they are watching and time spent.  You have to get to know your child and then do the best you can.  There's no absolute formula for this except trying to know yout child, talk with your child and then tailor your limits, your rules to the age--not just the chronological age, but the emotional and developmental age of your child. 

Solution:  It starts in the home!!!  From an article called Research, Practice and Social Change by Barbara Osborn she states--"Children model behavior they see in the media.  If kids don't see the consequences of violence, it teaches them that violence doesn't cause serious harm.  When heroes use violence it sends a message that violence is an appropriate way to respond to problems."

Parents---be involved and protect your children!!