2. Media: Communication channels through which content is delivered, including television, video games, movies, music, websites, apps, and advertisements. Technology: The tools, devices and other equipment that deliver media, including televisions, smartphones, tablets, eReaders, Ipods and game consoles. Media culture: Consumer-oriented messages communicated through mass media. Media culture defines, targets and then sells products to users. It shapes individuals’ attitudes, values, behaviors, and skills. Screen Media: Content delivered by technology that has a screen.

3. 30% of infants have a television in their rooms. Children under two who watch television spend twice as much time watching television and videos than reading books. Children ages 2-5 spend more then 32 hours a day with screens. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children younger then two and for children older then 2 years old less then two hours a day.

4. Children use technology to write, create, learn, and share information. Video- chatting with a grandparent who lives far away is an important way to keep in touch. Not all young children are exposed to negative screen use and amounts of screen time. Media touches most aspects of children’s lives and is the foundation they use to understand their world, how it works, how they fit into it, and how they can influence it.

5. How children treat one another. How they behave. How they learn. What they learn. How they think. Dealing with the effects of media is not just a parenting responsibility. Early childhood educators play an important role in educating families about media and technology.

6. Children can become disconnected from the real world. Their own ideas seem boring compared to what they see on a screen. Children prefer the fast-paced stimulation and immediate gratification of programs and interactive screens.

7. Play Deficit Disorder: More teachers are reporting that they are having problems promoting children’s creative play in their classrooms. Some children complain they are bored and ask to play on a computer game. Some children are unable to to come up with their own ideas for play. Conflicts often bring play to a halt before it has the chance to progress. Problem-Solving Disorder: Children are becoming dependent on screens and media-related scripts. They ask for new things and quickly become bored. They have a hard time being active leaders of their own learning. They have problems resolving conflicts without aggression. Compassion Deficit Disorder: Screen time can take away from the time that children learn how to interact with others in the real world, or experience empathy. Teachers are reporting an increase in bullying in younger children.

8.  How can teachers and families help?

9. Keep screens out of children’s bedrooms.

10. Set limits for the amount of time children can spend with all screens.

11. Try to plan when and how to use screens.

12. Select content that will promote children’s positive development and learning.

13. Limit viewing of violence.

14. Use screens together and show an interest in your child’s media usage.

15. Talk about what your child sees on screens. Discuss what is real and what is not.

16. Provide a variety of books and toys and games that promote creativity.

17. Share with family members as well as parents about issues concerning effective strategies.

18. Teachers and parents need to understand the power of media in children’s lives. Long established practices may not be the best approach for working with children growing up in today’s world. We need to get beyond the negatives and promote the posivite.