The Parent Link March 2010 A Connection Between Harris Creek Children’s Ministry and Parents
! this issue Kids and Media P.1 Preschoolers and Media P.2 Media Parenting Moment P.3 Issue Current Culture and Media P.4
Children’s Ministry Calendar Notes
March 10 Kids and Media: Unplugged Spring Break No Ac vi es A study release in January by the Kaiser Family Founda on has found that kids these days spend so much me with electronic media - cellphones, iPods, video games, and computers - that it might as well be a full- me job: more than 53 March 21 hours a week! Parent/Child Dedica on Church Bible Drill I recently was watching an episode of a crime show where a young child had been abducted, and the detec ves thought the child had met someone online. March 28 The parents were adamant that they constantly monitored what their child did on the family computer, and had even made sure that the child did not use the Regional Bible Drill laptop in his bedroom. As the episode was resolved, it was determined that the child had been ge ng online in his bedroom a er his parents were asleep by using his XBox 360. The parents had no idea he was able to even use his video gaming system for that purpose.
Children’s Ministry Do you know what your kids are watching, reading, listening to, seeing images Contact Informa on of, or saying via electronic media? While it may be difficult to know every single thing your child is exposed to through media each day, take some me this week Emily Gist to talk with your children about what they are watching and listening to. Talk about what things are appropriate for them, and how they mesh (or don’t mesh) Children’s Minister with a Chris an worldview. Talk about what things are not appropriate and why; [email protected] remind your child that is your job to keep them safe because you love them. Carol Underwood Ministry Associate [email protected] We’re on Facebook! Check out the groups Harris Creek Children’s Ministry and Harris Creek Mother’s Day Out for pictures, updates, and events! Office Phone: (254) 848-4953 Mother’s Day Out Calendar Notes
March 9 and 11 Media with Spring Break Preschoolers March 25 Today's average preschooler has been exposed to electronic media since birth. Teddy Bear Picnic In recent years, an upsurge in electronic media has specifically targeted young children from ages 1 month to 48 months. The development of en re networks (Noggin, PBS KIDS Sprouts, Nick jr.) and other media dedicated to educa ng children for preschool and kindergarten (Vandewater et al., 2004) has created home environments that are engulfed in electronic media. Ask God: Preschoolers born in 2005 have experienced educa onal DVDs (Baby Einstein, 1. For wisdom as you oversee Baby Mozart, Brainy Baby, etc.), handheld computer games (Game Boy, your children’s media Nintendo DS players, etc), video games (Leapfrog's Leapster, Cosmic family “diet.” [Wii], Go Diego, Go [Wii], etc), and cell phones as part of their everyday lives. Computer games for preschoolers are quite sophis cated, loaded with 2. To help your kids make interac ve play opportuni es, high-quality sounds, and high-defini on good decisions about graphics. These media also enhance preschoolers' cogni on levels by exposing technology. them to memory games, color matching, and problem solving. It is clear that preschoolers are using electronic media adeptly on a daily basis, thus growing 3. To show you ways to use up in a media-saturated world. technology in posi ve, family-building ways.
How Much Do Preschoolers Know? Paren ng Insights Young children as young as 4 years old can turn on a computer, recognize such In Children’s Ministry commands as "enter" and "close," maneuver a mouse, and click on their Magazine, online expert Tracy favorite websites. Moreover, an average preschooler plays on the computer Carpenter explores some ways that technology is impac ng for about 28 minutes a day (Gen le, 2004). Rideout, Vandewater, and Wartella young hearts and minds. (2003) conducted a study on the use of electronic media by 1,000 toddlers and preschoolers. They found that toddlers and preschoolers were able to express Shi ing rela onships—Although their choices for media viewing and par cipa on. Seventy-seven percent were kids s ll belong to social groups, able to turn on the television by themselves, 62% could use remote controls the emphasis is no longer on for channel selec ons effec vely, 71% asked for their favorite DVDs or videos, face-to-face gatherings. Preteens, 36% could insert their own music tapes or CDs in their players, 33% could use wired for rela onships, now think the computer on their own, and 12% were able to surf the Internet for their in terms of their “audience” favorite websites (p. 5). rather than their peer group. (from Childhood Educa on, December 22, 2009) Trying on iden es—Children express their developing What’s Up in Our Wired World? personali es through social- networking sites and online role- The average young American spends nearly every waking minute in front of an playing. Preteens, emula ng electronic device. Kids ages 8 to 18 spend more than 7.5 hours a day using computers “cool,” may try to outdo one or smart phones or watching TV. And because they mul task, they pack almost 11 another with sugges ve images. hours of media content into that me. (Kaiser Family Founda on) Providing “TMI”—Young people 87% of parents play video games with their kids at least occasionally. (Yahoo! Shine) s ll forming judgment and boundaries are sharing too much 20% of young people admit they’ve engaged in “sex ng”— emailing or receiving nude private informa on in very public photos or videos. (Associated Press - MTV) ways. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in. …Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit.” Revela on 3:20, 22
God may not be able to IM or text us, but he wants a Open the lines of communica on about media and technology by asking your rela onship that goes children these discussion-star ng ques ons: beyond weekly worship. God is available 24/7 and—best of all—no special device is 1. How does technology make life easier for you? How does it make life harder or needed to talk to him! more complicated?
Teachable Moments 2. What’s a good number of hours to spend in front of electronic devices each day? How can you tell when you’ve overdone it? • The Wired Word— Challenge children to think 3. What’s your favorite way to use technology, and how would you cope without how the Bible would be it? different if technology had existed in Jesus’ me. How What are some ways we can honor God with our media habits? would a Twi er version of your favorite Scripture verse read? How would you describe one of Jesus’ Paren ng Moment: miracles to a friend via text message? If Jesus had a TV Monitoring Media ad campaign, what would it look and sound like? With the explosion of technology now available, it seems like children are always plugged in, zoned out, or wired for sound. They spend less me outside, have shorter a en on spans, and are exposed to online dangers such as pornography. On the posi ve side, technology has expanded children’s knowledge and opportuni es. They learn teamwork, problem-solving, and communica on skills. Technology has also boosted ac vism among today’s young people. ! • Tech Commandments— When you’re establishing Although children may seem like “experts” when it comes to technology and new media, parents rules for media usage, are s ll responsible for supervising what their kids are exposed to—and for how long. Two keys involve children in the are modera on and interac on. These ps can help you limit and monitor what your kids see decisions. Ask them what and hear: “commandments” God might have set for online Strategically set up your equipment and schedules. Keep televisions out of children’s bedrooms, behavior and how we and place the computer in an accessible family area. Make media me con ngent on the interact with others using comple on of chores and homework. Plan alternate ac vi es, including physical ones. technology. What would he have made off-limits, and Establish digital-free zones. Agree on days and mes (such as dinner, family night, Sundays, etc.) what would he have when no one—including adults—is allowed to check e-mail or use any form of media. encouraged? What age requirements or me Watch and listen to TV shows, movies, and music together. Talk about the issues that come up. constraints might he have Tie them into faith and provide a biblical worldview for children to consider as they use established, and why? technology. This page is designed to help educa on parents and isn’t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that you’ll make informed decisions about what your children watch, listen to, and wear.
What’s Playing at the Movies Movie: Alice in Wonderland (March 5) Genre: Fantasy/adventure Ra ng: PG Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway Synopsis: In director Tim Burton’s sequel to Lewis Carroll’s stories, 19-year- Culture & Trends old Alice revisits Wonderland and reunites with her childhood friends. They need her help to overthrow the evil Red Queen and the Jabberwock dragon. What’s happening right As Alice discovers her voice, she becomes an empowered heroine—evident now that may affect your through how she grows in size throughout the film. children and family: Discussion Ques ons: What are the best things about being a child? What are you ! most looking forward to about growing up, and why? Read 1 Samuel 17:32-50. Think • Parents are toning down of a me when you’ve felt like David. What kind of “giants” have you faced? Where children’s birthday par es, do you get power and strength? due to the recession. Instead of hos ng lavish events, more parents are What Music Is Releasing le ng their kids choose a Ar st: Jus n Bieber special ou ng or meal. Album: My World (msnbc.com) Ar st Info: Bieber, an R&B phenom who just turned 16, was named one of the ho est stars of 2009. A self-taught musician from Canada, • Children are more likely to Bieber gained fame through YouTube. He’s the first ar st to have four get bullied when they singles from a debut album reach Billboard’s Top 40 before the album’s struggle with nonverbal release. Bieber also sings the first line in the new “We Are the World” communica on, reading video. ! nonverbal cues, and coming Summary: The first part of Bieber’s debut album, My World, released in November. up with op ons for The hit single “One Time” features guest vocals from hip-hop star Usher. In “One Less resolving social conflict, Lonely Girl,” Bieber sings: “I’m gonna put you first, I’ll show you what you’re worth if researchers say. you let me inside your world.” (livescience.com) Discussion Ques ons: Where does your “worth” come from? What are some situa ons that make you feel lonely? Read aloud Hebrews 13:5b. How can God’s promise of never abandoning you change your life? Quick Stats What Games Are Out • Children as young as 3 have nega ve bias against older Title Content Rating & people. Preschoolers who Platform aren’t biased have regular This adventure game features 70 tricky contact with senior ci zens. Playmobil Pirates missions on 16 islands. Players have to sink E; Nintendo DS (University of Alberta) enemy soldiers and rescue a mermaid.
Players step behind the grill to cook for a room E; Wii, Nintendo Fast Food Panic of hungry customers. Much of the gameplay is DS a high-speed juggling act.
Young Alex dreams of becoming the next T; PlaySta on Lunar: Silver Star Harmony ! Dragonmaster. In his adventures, the en re Portable • About 1.3 million children world is at stake. under the age of 18 live with their grandparents. (healthychildren.org) RATINGS: EC=Early Childhood, E=Everyone (ages 6+), E10+ (ages 10+), T=Teen (ages 13+)