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Contents Introduction
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Chapter 1: Media and Its Uses
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Media surrounds our lives every day. .................................8 Visual input sways our memories.....................................12 Audio input is greatly influential. ....................................16 Media can have entertainment value...............................20 Media is a powerful information system. ........................24 Media can be an effective teaching tool. .........................28
Chapter 2: Media and Its Forms
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Words in print pack a punch! ..........................................32 It’s important to be good film critics. ...............................36 Channel the TV in positive directions. ............................40 Computers are a modern-day blessing and curse. ...........44 Music can be the strongest media force! .........................52
Chapter 3: Media and Its Impact
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Media impacts cultures. ..................................................56 Media impacts our opinions. ...........................................60 Media impacts our choices..............................................64 Media impacts our personal habits and time. ..................68 Media impacts our sense of reality. .................................72
Chapter 4: Mediating Choices
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Keep an eye on the time. .................................................76 Media ratings make for clearer choices. ..........................80 Make media an interactive family event. .........................84 Check out Christian media alternatives. .........................88 More Resources ................................................................92 Subpoint Index ................................................................94
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Media and Its Uses CHAPTER 1 - MEDIA AND ITS USES
Children today face more media choices than ever. In fact, most American kids spend six hours of every day in front of a computer, video, or television screen. Even if that number seems shocking, we can’t deny that television, music, video games, books, magazines, and the Internet are an integral part of the lives we live.
Media surrounds our lives every day. Have you ever wondered about the impact media is having on your kids? It’s hard not to wonder in a time when the average family has two televisions, two VCRs, two CD players, one video-game player, and a computer, too! As parents, it’s our job to guide, supervise, and teach our children how to harness the power of media to their advantage and to avoid the murky waters that surround it.
Media is a powerful force. int key po
MEDIACES EN F IN LU DS. I K
Media is undeniably influential. Our kids
watch the nightly news and see world events as they happen, they use the Internet to learn about scientific discoveries around the world, and they read books and magazines for education and enjoyment. But we need to guard against media’s negative influences as well. Childhood obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, distorted body image, sexual promiscuity, and poor academic achievement all have links to excessive or inappropriate use of the media.
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.......................... Three of these negative influWhen your child encounters inappropriate material, you face a choice: ignore it or confront it. Choose to confront it! Use this time to compare and contrast your family’s beliefs with the values portrayed by the media.
key po int
MED REQU IA CARE IRES CHOI FUL CES.
When kids stop and examine media, they need to use critical thinking and discernment. Rather than taking these messages at face value, encourage your child to stop and wonder about who’s behind any hidden meanings and to ask: “Do I agree with this message?”
ences—obesity, body image, and poor academic achievement—affect kids as early as elementary school. Simply watching music videos or surfing the Internet isn’t the culprit. Trouble develops when use becomes extreme or our children make poor choices. By helping kids develop “media literacy,” ascertaining both the message and who’s behind it, we help kids use media wisely.
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HI T Y R T
Make a family media plan for the coming week. Choose which programs, video games, music, magazines, and Internet sites you’ll enjoy. Then use media only when it’s scheduled and stick to the schedule!
MEDIA SURROUNDS OUR LIVES EVERY DAY.
TARGET MOMENT
Helping our kids interpret, comprehend, and scrutinize media is only half of the battle. The other half is setting boundaries. Rules for media choices need to be in line with the values that characterize your family. And remember: What we read, watch, and listen to ourselves send powerful messages to our kids about the authenticity of our values!
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Percent of American homes with a TV
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