Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/zone_nav/log/previous.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 31
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/zone_nav/log/previous.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 31
Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/intro_quote/index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 39
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/intro_quote/index.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 39
Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/apps/rotation/graphics/common/tn/index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 42
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/apps/rotation/graphics/common/tn/index.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2005/September/19/274/index.php on line 42
Healthy Media Consumption Rules
(UK) Two former media executives (Teresa Orange and Louise O'Flynn), are on a mission to stop British youth turning into a 'generation of slack-jawed couch potatoes'. The book, The Media Diet For Kids, focusses on how younge people are spending too much time in front of screens (be it TV or computers—why did they leave out the mobile phone?).
The facts are staggering: average child watches 53 hours a week, up from 38 hours a decade ago; children suffer attention problems if they are exposed to television during early childhood; the research which finds men who watch more than 21 hours of TV a week double their risk of diabetes; the fact that, by the age of 18, the average child in the US has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on TV.
Here's the golden rules from the book:
- Parents should always stay in control of television and computer use.
- Children should only watch TV or play on computers for short lengths of time.
- Don't allow televisions into bedrooms.
- Watching television during meals should be a treat, not the norm.
- Limit TV or computer time early in the morning; avoid if possible.
- Don't allow any screen activity in the run-up to—or after—bedtime.
- Create periods of time without the computer or television.
No-one will deny that the screen (mobile phone, TV or computer) has become integrated into the lives of the youth, however, what about research and discussion regarding the positive effects of these new media channels in connecting / educating youth? Not all young people are passive users of media and through technology and weblogging they are becomign creators not consumers…
Filed by DK on September 19 2005
You're viewing 'Healthy Media Consumption Rules', an entry in our 'news, comment, opinion, speculation and other short-form info…' (b)log. You may also explore current and other entries, or search.