What can I do about media violence?

Violent media is everywhere. Limiting how much violence your children witness in the media might seem like it’s too hard to do. But you can make your home a media safe place by modeling good media use and choosing safe content for yourself and your children. Here are some suggestions to help you do so:

Use Media With Your Children
Using media with your children offers a great chance to discuss what you see and hear. Studies have shown that this practice can reduce the negative effects of media violence.
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Do Your Homework
Research movies before allowing children to go. Rating systems for TV, movies and music provides minimal information about content, but parents can use websites such as Common Sense Media to gain more information about what your child will actually see and hear.
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Practice Media Literacy
Teaching kids to think critically about media is important. By showing them that violence in media is often not real, they will be less likely to be afraid of what they see.
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Be a Media Role Model
Be aware of what you are watching when you child is present. Be aware that even if your child may not understand the content, the violence may still affect them. For older children, a lot of adult programming is inappropriately violent.
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Remove TVs from Children’s Bedrooms
Keep the TV and video game system out of your child’s bedroom. Parents give up the ability to monitor their children’s media use and media content when they allow children to have televisions and video game systems in their bedrooms. By keeping these electronics in a common area, parents can monitor their use much more easily and be aware of whether the amount and content of media their children are using are appropriate for their household.

 

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CMCH resources for parents and teachers are made possible
by a grant from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.