Alternative Stories / attention / children and media / consumerism / Early Childhood / Healthy Media Choices / Media / Media Ecology

Attention, the Thread Through the Maze, is the Heart of the Matter

In 1994, when my younger daughter was six years old, I saw firsthand that the commercialized media was impacting the environments of and affecting the attention of children her age. One example was when, at a Power Rangers birthday party for a classmate, the favors were only given if a child could answer questions about … Continue reading

Aging / attention / Background / children and media / Family / Grandparents / healthy famiy / Healthy Media Choices / Holidays / Media / Parents / Rituals

Secret Sauce for Sweet Family Life – and Holidays

 When I was a kid, my father would retell familiar stories every Thanksgiving. We loved them. As I got older, there was some rolling of eyes.  Now, I regret that we didn’t record that precious voice, those old stories, for my children and grandchild.  Psychologists say that one of the gifts we can give our … Continue reading

Possible Marriage: “Medical” and Media Literacy Approaches to Technology in Early Childhood
Early Childhood / family media literacy / Healthy Media Choices / Media Literacy Education / Parents / Teachers

Possible Marriage: “Medical” and Media Literacy Approaches to Technology in Early Childhood

Reading “Media Literacy In Early Childhood: Inquiry-Based Technology Integration” by Faith Rogow sharpened my understanding of the different paradigms that govern thinking about technology in early childhood education. First, the fundamental difference between what Rogow calls the “medical model” based on the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Media Literacy Educators model … Continue reading