Implementing Take the Challenge School and Community Wide Kristine Paulsen Educational Consultant

The Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television (S.M.A.R.T.) curriculum was developed by Stanford University for 3 rd or 4 th grade students. In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to: Reduce childrens TV and video game use Reduce obesity and weight gain Reduce aggression in class and on playground Reduce childrens requests for toys advertised on TV

Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District developed Take the Challenge Take Charge, a preschool through high school, media education curriculum which was inspired by the SMART curriculum. It includes lessons that are integrated into language arts, math, science, and social studies.

Scary Statistics Students spend an average of 7 ½ hours a day on media entertainment (Kaiser Foundation Survey 2010) That equals 1,650 hours a year watching TV, 1000 hours playing video games, movies, etc. Total of 2,700 hours, that same student only spends 1000 hours a year in school. 73% of parents say they would like to limit their childrens TV viewing. In 2007 the U.S. video game industry sales topped out at $18.8 BILLION!

The Josephson Institute of Ethics surveyed 43,321 teenagers. 47% said they had been bullied, teased, or taunted in a way that seriously upset them. 50% said they had bullied, teased, or taunted someone at least once.

Why has the violence increased? 1.The American Medical Association 2.The American Psychological Association 3.The American Academy of Pediatrics These three have looked at 30 years of research and agree that media violence is a causal factor in the violent behavior we are seeing in our children today. Viewing entertainment violence can lead to increase in aggressive attitude and behavior. The effects are measurable and long lasting.

Violent Video Game Research Repeated exposure to media violence is a stronger influence on aggressive behavior than is living in poverty, engaging in substance abuse, or having abusive parents. – Dr. Bushman University of Michigan

Technology is taking the violence one step further. The Nintendo Wii system and Playstation now have teenagers acting out virtual murders. When armed with a knife, players have to move their arms in a stabbing motion.

You are learning the muscle memory necessary to do those acts, to stab someone, to chop someone, to shoot someone. Its one step closer to a virtual reality in which you are actually doing these things to people. Theres new evidence that this type of violence can leave a lasting impression on young minds. Dr. Michael Rich, Director Harvard Medical School Research Center on Media and Child Health, 2007

[Update]

Adolescents who expose themselves to video game violence were: more hostile reported getting into arguments with teachers more frequently more likely to be involved in physical fights performed more poorly in school

Regardless of how many other risk factors are present in a youths life, playing a lot of violent games is likely to increase the frequency and the seriousness of his or her physical aggression, both in the short term and over time as the youth grows up.

Brain Scan Research Indiana University School of Medicine Brain activity while playing a video game.

Effects of Media Reduction On Playground Aggression Average of Eight Schools

Effects of Media Reduction On Negative Classroom Behavior K-6 th Grade

Effects of Media Reduction On Aggressive Behavior Youth Correctional Center

Powerpuff Girls Watch our kindergarten crime fighters kick major villain butt!

Impact of No TV on 4 th Grade MEAP (Jan. 2005)

Impact of No TV on 4 th Grade MEAP (Fall 2005)

Impact of No TV on 4 th Grade MEAP (Fall 2006)

Impact of No TV on 4 th Grade MEAP (Fall 2007)

In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to: Reduce childrens requests for toys advertised on TV

Dartmouth Medical School published the results of a 10 year study on the effects of exposure to movie smoking. They concluded 35% of habitual smoking in teenagers and young adults can be directly attributed to earlier exposure to movie smoking. Movie smoking exposure was a stronger predictor of habitual smoking than having a parent or friend who smokes.

% of 7 th grade students that had smoked at least 1 cigarette during their life. (66% Decrease)

% of 7 th grade students that at least 5 drinks of alcohol within a couple hours during last 30 days. (81% Decrease)

% of 7 th grade students that had used marijuana 1 or more times during the last 30 days. (72% decrease)

What do students say? I like being in the program and doing different things. My dad taught me a hard grown-up card game. It was fun. - Allison Instead of watching TV I went outside, played cards and read my advanced reading book. I feel like my life is much better. - Hailey

What do parents say? I used to think we were a close family until we turned off the TV for a week. Now we know what it really means to be close. We played board games, outside games, we also talked about feelings and things we would like to change with our family. We found out we enjoy our life more without TV. Our children realize there are other things to do besides watching TV. Love the idea that I could blame the principal!

What do 8 th grade students say? The TV Turnoff program affected me by actually a lot. My grades went up big time. The prizes were awesome, the whole program itself was not too long at all. I could have done the program longer. Even though I didnt win any prizes, I still am happy I did the program.

What do 8 th grade students say? What I liked about TV Turnoff is that you find that there are other things to do besides TV. I usually couldnt find anything to do besides TV when Mom would tell me to get off. I thought that was really cool, when you do that for a long period of time it began to get really easy to find things to do.

What do 8 th grade students say? I think the TV Turnoff should have been before football season. It was really tempting for me to watch some of my favorite football teams go at it. Other than that the TV Turnoff really had a positive affect on me. I think that it worked great. At first I didnt think that TV had any negative affects on people. But after doing it, I was concentrating better, doing my work better and I was more organized.

Helping families Reduce TV and Screens is one of the most important gifts that teachers and communities can give their students.

FAMILY FAMILY FUN FUN NIGHT NIGHT