Required Resources
- Web Article: “On the Box – Is Television Good or Bad for Children?” by Liz Attenborough
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/news/1197_on_the_box-is_television_good_or_bad_for_children
- Web Article: “A Growing Number of Video Viewers Watch from Crib” by Tamar Lewin
- Web Article: “Television; Curriculum Update for ‘Sesame Street’” by Ralph Blumenthal
- Read the following American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) News Briefs:
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- News Brief: Early Violent Television Viewing Associated With Later Anti-Social Behavior
- News Brief: Consistent, Frequent TV Viewing Causes Behavior Problems
Optional Resources
- Web Site: Colorin Colorado: Using Children’s Television to Learn Literacy and Language
http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/teaching/television
- Web Site: NAEYC: Media Violence in Children’s Lives
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSMEVI98.PDF
- Web Article: AAP: “Violent Television Viewing During Preschool Is Associated With Antisocial Behavior During School Age” by Dimitri A. Christakis and Frederick J. Zimmerman
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/993.full
Click on “Full Text (PDF)” to download the article.
- Web Article: AAP: “Children’s Television Exposure and Behavioral and Social Outcomes at 5.5 Years: Does Timing of Exposure Matter?” by Kamila B. Mistry, Cynthia S. Minkovitz, Donna M. Strobino, and Dina L.G. Borzekowski
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/4/762.full
The Impact of Television on Literacy
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting children’s use of TV, movies, and video and computer games to no more than 1 or 2 hours per day and states that children under the age of 2 should not watch any television, movies, or computer or video games. As well, the AAP links television viewing to such negative health effects as violent or aggressive behavior, substance abuse, sexual behavior, obesity, poor body image, and decreased school performance (AAP, 2001).
The Required Resources in this module present differing perspectives on children’s television usage with young children. After reviewing the articles, consider:
- Your personal perspective with regard to the role television and television viewing plays in the lives of young children
- The perspectives presented in the Learning Resources
By Day 7 of Week 4:
Post your thoughts with regard to:
- Whether you agree or disagree with the American Academy of Pediatrics and why or why not
- Whether children under the age of 2 should be allowed to watch television and view other media
- Whether television can be a tool for supporting literacy, and why or why not
