More from KQED
Media as a Learning Tool
Cyberchase (Photo Credit: Thirteen/WNET New York)
The Media Reality
Children live in an increasingly media-saturated environment and are using media more frequently and at earlier ages than never before. They spend a lot of time in front of "screens"-watching television and DVDs, using computers and cell phones, and playing video games. For the average American child it can add up to more than five hours per day.
Almost three quarters of infants and toddlers are exposed to TV programs before they turn two. What they watch, how they watch, and how much they watch can have a profound impact on children as they begin to make sense of the world and find their special place within it.
Read this report by Carly Shuler at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop for more information about the role of media in children's lives.
Screen Smarts
Early childhood educators and parents can use KQED's award-winning PBS KIDS programming and resources to engage children in fun educational experiences that help them enter school ready to learn.
Active Viewing
Increase the educational value of PBS KIDS programs by engaging children while they're viewing and encouraging them to:
- Respond to the characters and clap, dance, sing, and count along with them.
- Talk about what they see and hear to build their knowledge of the world.
- Ask questions and predict what might happen next to boost comprehension skills.
- Relate their own experiences to those they see on PBS KIDS to nurture empathy.
- Repeat new words they learn and use them in daily interactions to build vocabulary.
Reading and Storytelling
Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important thing adults can do to ensure children's future learning success. Take this idea a step further by making connections between what you view on PBS KIDS and what you read. Enliven story time by:
- Using different voices for different characters.
- Asking children open-ended questions about the story (those that elicit more than one response).
- Having them predict what a character will do next or guess how the story will end.
- Encouraging children to explore how characters might feel in certain situations or what they might have done differently.
- Making up new and silly endings to your favorite tales!
Remember, "story time" isn't just about reading books - it includes talking about the pictures and oral storytelling, too!
Doing Hands-On Activities
Turn the educational concepts in such PBS KIDS programs as Sesame Street, Curious George, and SUPER WHY! into concrete learning experiences for children by making connections between what you view and what you do. For example:
- After watching a Sesame Street segment about the letter "U," have children make an alphabet mural or a collage of "U" words in the shape of a "U."
- After watching a Mister Rogers' Neighborhood segment where characters cooperate on a task, engage children in a simple cooking activity where they can learn a tasty lesson about teamwork.
Couch Potato Kids
A malnourished American child - that is, one whose nutrition is poor - is more likely to be overweight than underweight. Today, 15 percent of children in America are overweight. In California, the rate is closer to 30 percent. The cause? Research points to lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Kids today simply aren't as active as they used to be. They're spending more time indoors, and they're consuming more sugary and processed foods - in larger quantities - than ever. Add to these statistics the enticing ads for high-fat calorie-dense snacks such as chips, sodas, and sugary cereals promoted on the TV shows they watch.
What can you do? In addition to the ideas above:
Set limits on screen time:
- Turn on the TV when you've chosen something specific to watch.
- Turn off the TV off when your program is over and do something physical.
- Make meal time a no-media zone and enjoy family conversation.
- Select programs appropriate for your child's age and interests.
- Model good eating habits and talk to kids about why they're so important.
- Stock nutritious snacks to eat during screen time and come up with creative ways to serve them.
- Choose educational television; it can engage children's bodies and minds.