1. MEDIA SAVVY HOW TO NURTURE DIGITAL LITERACY AND NAVIGATE THE WORLD (OR AT LEAST, THE WORLD WIDE WEB) Michelle Albright, PhD Director, Weston Youth Services malbright@westonct.gov

3. It’s a brave and busy new world! Our language and lives have been transformed by technology Digital media & corresponding tools have changed the form and frequency of how we learn, play, work, communicate, and interact We have more exposure, access, and choices than ever before Our (and our children’s) media use also has more consequences than ever before

4. What’s out there? White/smartboards Television DVD’s & DVR’s Internet access Video games (handheld or console) Cell phones Tablets i-everythings Multi-touch screens Movie theaters Radio Portable music players Computers Electronic toys E-book readers

5. What’s the longest you’ve gone without Google?

6. How are kids today using media? Children age 8 and under spend an average of 3 hours a day with media 1.5 hours are spent watching TV/DVD’s 30 minutes are spent playing video, computer or handheld games 30 minutes are spent listening to music Children between the ages of 8 and 18 are exposed to media for 10 hours and 45 minutes per day (Common Sense Media, 2011; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2006)

7. A typical day of TV viewing 37% of children under the age of 1 watch TV for an average of 53 minutes 73% of children between the ages of 2 and 4 watch TV for an average of 1 hour and 53 minutes 72% of children between the ages of 5 and age watch TV for an average of 2 hours and 2 minutes Children between the ages of 8 and 10 watch 2.5 hours of television and.5 hours of videos Children between the ages of 5 and 9 spend about 1 hour per day reading

8. Daily use of other media At age 3, about 25% of children use the internet daily By age 5, about 50% of children use the internet daily By age 8, more than 66% of children use the internet daily Between ages 4 and 5, about 20% of children use handheld video games By age 7, about 46% of children use handheld video games By age 9, more than 50% of children use handheld video games

9. Why don’t you just ask Siri?

10. Media Multi-tasking Using more than one type media simultaneously or Using one type of media for multiple tasks or Using media while engaging in real-life interaction

11. Quality and quantity matter Interactive vs. Passive Designed to facilitate active and create use and encourage social engagement vs. Background media that leads to passive viewing Child-directed vs. Adult-directed Designed to complement and promote children’s social and cognitive development vs. Not designed to be followed by preschoolers and toddlers

12. But it’s “educational”...... Did you get your Baby Einstein refund? Showing doesn’t always equal learning Media is a teaching tool, not a teacher Media can reinforce but should never reduce or replace communication, play, interactions, or other developmentally appropriate interactions with peers, family members, and teachers What should we expect children to learn from media?

13. Potential benefits High quality educational programs have shown benefits for children Co-viewing promotes social interaction and learning Digital tools can excite and engage children Technology can optimize learning for children with special needs “Technology-handling” skills and digital/media-literacy are critical for educational and occupational success

14. Potential negative effects Less time spent engaged in creative play Less frequent and less meaningful interactions with peers and parents Less likely to learn and recall information from a video compared to a live person or presentation Potential for sleep difficulties, attention problems, aggressive behaviors, and higher rates of obesity

15. Angry birds (alone!) won’t ruin your child

16. How can you enhance the benefits of media? Albright’s 6 C’s (expanded from Guernsey’s 3 C’s) Content Context Child Communication Connection Control

17. Try this at home..... Limit media use by children younger than 2 Make sure the content of media is cognitively, socially, and developmentally appropriate for your child Review and preview Consider quantity and quality Use media with your child – and talk about what you see and hear Use media to extend and expand learning Monitor your child’s and your own media use

18. Be savvy about cyberspace Model how to manage media Protect your privacy and plan for your potential A stranger is a stranger, even in cyberspace. Use your manners when using media A diamond is forever, and so is a digital image or link Big brother is watching (and so is big sister, and little sister, and your cousin’s, best friend’s, neighbor’s, father-in-law) Flag anything funky.

19. Internet Safety 101 Keep computers in the center Don’t let kids search alone. Set content filters on your browser Set content filters on your search engine Use internet filters – filtering and blocking programs that prevent access to sites based on words/names NetNanny, CYBERsitter, CyberPatrol, SafeEyes Use kid-safe search engines, browsers, and sites like http://www.kidzui.com/ & http://www.pebblego.com/ Use time limiting tools Check in and check up on browser histories, FB pages, email accounts, and IM/texts

20. Resources – Media guides Common Sense Media Reviews movies, TV shows, apps, videogames, websites and books to help parents make informed decisions about children’s media exposure and entertainment. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Children’s Technology Review A monthly PDF newsletter — modeled in the spirit of Consumer Reports — that includes reviews of apps, software, games, and toys. (Does require a subscription fee) http://childrenstech.com/ Parents Choice Professional and family reviews of books, toys, videogames and software. http://www.parentschoice.org

21. A few of my (and my kids) favorites Apps Don’t let the pigeon run this app! Ocarina World Atlas Weird But True (Nat Geo) Science 360 Bookworm Shows & Movies The Cosby Show Dirty Jobs How It’s Made Mythbusters Nim’s Island Believe in Me Night at the Museum

22. Resources – Media guidelines Lisa Guernsey Director of the Early Education Initiative at the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C., where she focuses on how to scale up high-quality learning environments for young children, birth through age 8 http://www.lisaguernsey.com/articles&volume=1&issue=assumptions- about-screentime National Association for the Education of Young Children Position statement on technology and young children http://www.naeyc.org/content/technology-and-young-children American Academy of Pediatrics AAP has published several policy statements on media usage by children and media education http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/10/12/peds.201 1-1753

23. Resources – Media Use and Safety Common Sense Media Guide to Internet Safety http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for- parents/10-simple-steps-internet-safety Get Net Wise http://kids.getnetwise.org/