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Media Literacy

"TV takes our children across the globe before parents give them permission to cross the street" 
Joshua Meyrowitz, Center For Media Literacy

From television to t-shirts, from billboards to the internet, media no longer just shape our culture, they are our culture.  In each Early Learning workshop participants will learn about the power of media to teach and make a lasting impression.  We will also share helpful tips regarding the appropriate use of television with small children. 

Television engages children.  Music, motion, bright colors, fun characters, and simple stories are what children's public television programs are made of - things that grab the attention of young children.  Use the magic of WTTW Kids to spark your children's sense of curiosity and love of learning. 

Watching TV with your small child:

• Use the pause button to stop recorded programs and talk with your child.
  
• Ask your child what he or she thinks will happen next.
  
• Encourage your child to sing and dance to the music.
  
• After watching, ask your child to tell you what they saw or heard during the program.

The following tip sheets provide a guide for watching television with children:  (You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to view these documents.)

Choosing the Best for Your Children  (PDF)
Guidelines for Rating Children's Television  (PDF)
Not All TV is for Kids  (PDF)
2 Steps to Smart TV  (PDF)
TV Tips  (PDF)
What About the News?  (PDF)
What Kids Get From TV  (PDF)
Why Not Just Turn It Off?  (PDF)



To view the pdfs, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can get your free copy of the software by clicking here.