Intro about things to consider when introducing young kids to media.

1. Exposure
What you need to know about
media and kids of ages 3-6

2. Development Needs

3. Forms of Media

4. Factors for deciding Media exposure
• Can the Media address the developmental
need? If so to what extent? (Job)
• How long should the child be exposed to
Media? (Time)
• What quality media can address address the
developmental need? How is/was rated as
such? (Quality)

5. Job
Television Computer
Physical Limited Limited
Sexual Semi-limited Semi-limited
Sensient Semi-limited Semi-limited
Affective Limited Limited
Behavioral Semi-limited Semi-limited
Social Semi-limited Semi-limited
Cognitive Limited Semi-limited
Moral Semi-limited Semi-limited

6. Time
• “Children who consistently spend more than 4
hours per day watching TV are more likely to
be overweight.” (A)
• “In one study by Walsh (2000), a majority of
teens admitted that their parents do not
impose a time limit on the number of hours
they are allowed to play video games.” (B)

7. Quality
Computers and Video Games
• “Age of about 3 or 4, your child will start to be
ready for accelerate software with storylines
and puzzles to solve.” (w/ Adult)
• “The age of 4 or 5, they will still be using
preschool software, but they may be able to
use it independently.” (C)

8. Sources
A. http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/
tv_affects_child.html
B. http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/video
games.html
C. http://familyinternet.about.com/od/introtofa
milycomputing/a/growthchart.htm