Sunday, June 24, 2018

The Theory I Chose

I raised my child as a single parent and often people ask me how I did it.When I was getting my bachelor in early childhood education administration one of the classes I took had us study the different theories of child development. We studied  Piaget, B. F Skinner, Urie Bronfenbrenner and others. It was while I was taking this class I realized the theory I was using to raise my daughter was The Maslow approach. The Maslow approach is a humanistic approach that has a hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs are: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs and self-actualization.

I felt the Maslow approach helps a parent understand that until the basic needs of a child are met it can be difficult to help a child. In my point of view the Maslow approach take care of the whole child not just the physiological or psychological needs and it doesn't just reinforce behavior that parents want. My position is the Maslow approach helps a child become their own individual and help parents help children become a whole unique self.

Of course there are times when raising a child that other theories need to be used because other people's theories help a parent raise a child too and different theories help at different stages of development as the child grows and parents shouldn't be afraid to change the approach they use if one isn't working. However, the Maslow approach is the one I used most often when I raised my child.

Everyone is different though and each parent should find the theory that works for them, their children and their family. Knowing what theory you want to use to raise your children though helps as a guide as parents raise their children.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Other Types of Technology And Children

Computer, smart phones and the internet all offer in interactive media through a varied range of learning, entertainment and communication. When a parent is considering technology and the use their children have of it, it's necessary to consider the use of computers since it's one of the most popular media that children use to interact with each day. Computers have become more common in children's lives over the past decade and it's important for parents to know what their children are doing on the computer. As soon as children can read and write they begin to use a computer for word processing. This helps children write freely and experiment with different letters and words without erasing or crossing out what they don't like. As children get older they use the computer to do homework, research projects, and papers. Children can encounter racial slurs, pornography and cyber bullying when using a computer. When parent's don't know what their children are doing online they can get into chat rooms and have relationships with people which can cause a child to be sexually abused particularly if they meet the person face to face without the parents knowing which is often the case. This is why it's important for parents to know what children are doing while on the computer and to set up blocks on certain sites.

A disadvantage to smart phones and other technology is that they cause distractions in face to face interactions and are making it easier for children to not develop or use communication skills that are important to have when they get to the age of their first job. Video games can be filled with aggression and gender stereotyping . This is a reason video games are now rated.  Exposure to violent video games can make children  more aggressive  and less caring. The discovery that this occurs with exposure to video games is consistent and doesn't  differ with age, gender or cultural  upbringing. Video games don't give children the opportunity for independent thought or creativity and can cause  children to confuse reality with fantasy. There are positive aspects to video games such as enhancing spatial thinking skills, improve problem solving and the use of fine motor skills.

Regardless of the types of media and technology parents have in their homes it's important for parents to know and be informed of what their children are doing with technology and what forms of media they are watching.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Types of Media and Children

Screen Media is television or movies. Studies have found that the more preschoolers and school aged children watch prime time TV shows and cartoons the less time they spend reading and interacting with others. TV shows and movies that children watch may have ethnic or gender stereotypes that adults need to be aware of. Educational programs for children are sensitive to issues of equality and diversity but commercial entertainment programs can convey ethnic  and gender stereotypes. When minorities appear in adult shows they are more likely to be put across as secondary characters and have lower status roles such as unskilled workers or law breakers which teaches stereotypes. There are shows such as Blackish which are starting to break these stereotypes.

Print media is books, magazines etc. Introduction to these is influenced by the status of the family and the educational level of the parents. There is a relationship between education, income, and the value placed on the purchase of books and other reading material. The more educated the parents, the greater the income is, which can lead to attention on what printed media is purchased and therefore that children are exposed to. Some claim printed media is the primary way information about education, religion and government is passed from one generation to the next.

Audio media is any media channel that uses audio files such as music, audio books, or podcasts. Children use music in an effort to control and communicate their moods. Children as young as eight months can tell the difference between happy and sad music. This fact reaffirms the allegation that music has the ability to communicate emotion and influence mood. Lyrics to music has the ability to influence behaviors. Listening to songs can increase pro-social thoughts, increase empathy, and foster helping others.

Where these types of media influence children, their thoughts and how they react to different situations it is important for parents to know what children are listing to, watching and the lessons that are being taught through these types of media and be aware of the messages being sent.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Media and Children

Media is a type of communication that fosters a specific effect or action. Mass media is a type of communication that impacts a large number of people with the intent of delivering a message through an impersonal condition. Media and the mass media use the latest technology and their connection with life, society and the environment to influence our children.

Extensive television  watching has been identified  with family and friend difficulties. Children use the TV as a way to avoid interaction and can happen when parents are stressed. Children can  use TV viewing as a way to escape. The most obvious way parents impact the media's influence on their children is by identifying and monitoring viewing habits. It's been found that parents are somewhat uninvolved with what their children are viewing and even when they are involved the level of involvement can be sporadic.

Parents are gatekeepers of their children's viewing habits. For this reason parents should consider setting rules for and monitoring the programs and movies their children watch. Parents should sit and watch with their children the shows their children watch because this can help children understand and interpret TV programs and movies they watch. The amount of time children spend watching TV can affect their socialization depending on the types of shows they watch. If children watch educational shows it can help them learn new concepts. Shows such as Sesame Street were created to foster children's learning. If children are watching for entertainment  it can strengthen stereotypes. Parents should consider the role of TV as it applies to academic learning. TV has the potential for building  and strengthening  academic skills.