Kids and Media

I don’t know that we are actually going to have a class about this, but I am interested in this topic and I do think that kids should be given special consideration and when adults, parents and teachers discuss literacy, media literacy is an important component in education in the 21^st century.

I recently picked up a book from the library about Media Literacy by W. James Potter. (I know the irony is painful, but I actually like course textbooks as intros into different subjects.) It’s interesting because the point is made right off that it is not just kids that need to be taught to evaluate media and ask deeper questions, like what, how and why certain media is shown and the meaning behind it. Especially considering how much of the day is filled with media of every kind.

This book notes three important factors that impact ability to deconstruct media: experience, actively using skills to ask meaningful questions, and finally maturation. Children need time to cognitively develop. Again, according to Porter, “only 10% of children between 5 and 7 years of age have a clear understanding of the profit-seeking motives of commercials” (Potter, 22).

I remember my own personal love of Teddy Ruxpin and favorite childhood commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kc2HvjO8z4. I wanted this bear so much and remember my mom finally sitting me down to explain that Teddy wouldn’t actually talk to me, and wasn’t actually “worth it” – whatever that meant to my little 5 year old mind. I never did get my own Teddy, and at the time, I don’t think I learned anything about the difference between advertising and real life either. Marketing has come a long way in childhood toys, even from that time.

I think the current most infiltrated toy on the market right now is the Webkinz product line of animals that also come to life when you sign up for the online community at http://www.webkinz.com/.

Media literacy obviously needs a place in early childhood education, not to stop kids from wanting what they see on TV or in ads, because that will never happen, but to make them aware of what is actually happening. I’d be interested to know, as educators, who’s doing this successfully and what they are doing?