We see the need both to bring the sunshine of our attention to young children and to help them develop their own. The question is: how can time be found in the crazy-busy lives of families with young children for nurturing close relationships, resiliency, and the attention everyone needs for life? Parents and teachers see … Continue reading
Category Archives: Healthy Media Choices
Parents of Children Birth to Age Six
We offer research-based, individually unique plans for intentional use in the home of a young child. Our process for reflecting on the actual habits and environments of each participant means that we avoid the “one size fits all” quick fix and help establish long-term, doable, adaptable practices that will stand the family in good stead … Continue reading
Childcare Providers, Preschool Teachers and Schools
Those who care for and teach young children (birth to 6 years) often see the effects of media use – for good or ill – play out in the childcare or school environment. We offer clear research-based strategies for intentional use of screen time in childcare and preschool environments as well as speaking with parents … Continue reading
Being Resolute
Somehow, New Year’s resolutions leave me cold. Probably, this is because of experience with starting with an idea about what would be “better,” only to find that it was just that – an idea, with its own set of unintended consequences. Being resolute, actually finding a place in myself that can stand up to inertia and … Continue reading
Faith and Humanist Communities
Many of us look to faith or humanist organization for help with living a life in accord with our values. Today, with a large part of our days spent with technology and media, there is a strong need to look at our habits through the lens of our beliefs. Our research-based, individually tailored approach is … Continue reading
Mr. Rogers and the Magic of Attention
Mr. Rogers shows us how to transform the ordinary with attention. Continue reading
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
Advertising / children and television / Early Childhood / family media literacy / Healthy Media Choices / Media Literacy Education
Entertainment Media Educates
“Experts Defend Videogames’ Educational Role,” La Prensa’s article on a study from researchers at the Open University of Catalonia, caught my eye. What the researchers point to is the need for Ludoliteracy, an understanding of how video games work, what they teach and how they influence us as humans. They point to the marginalization of … Continue reading
What are We Sacrificing?
The current Verizon ad asks: “What are you giving up?” by not being on the largest, most reliable network, sharing every moment, streaming all night long, watching a movie in a tent, drowning out the sounds of nature, all around? The more relevant question, especially for those with young children, is: What are you giving … Continue reading
children and media / Early Childhood / Family / family media literacy / Healthy Media Choices / Parents / Strategies
Four Steps to Intentional Media Use with Young Children
There are four foundational steps toward an intentional relationship with media in the home when you have young children. 1: Get the information you need: Here are a couple of places to start American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Recommendations for Parents The AAP discourages media use by children younger than 2 years. The AAP … Continue reading
Healthy Media Choices 