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#3 of a 3-Part Series  Sensible GetKidsInternetSafe Screen Media Guidelines for Children Ages 3 to 6 Years

In this GetKidsInternetSafe (GKIS) preschool series, we have covered setting the stage for safe use and launching smart and healthy use habits. Now it’s time to set a course for beginning brilliant technology mastery. Fun for the whole family, no matter what the ages!

OPTIMIZE THE POSITIVES:

  • Use technology to support and complement other avenues of creativity rather than as an isolated activity in and of itself.

    For example, take pictures of Lego and block creations, sculpture, and drawings and share them with loved ones and teachers. Build stories with images and videotape of dramatic play and karaoke.

  • Be amazing and create with them! Help your children create digital stories incorporating video, pictures, and auditory files. 

    Encourage your children to explore lots of roles including screenwriter, director, producer, camera operator, set narrator, and the “talent.” Lights! Camera! Action! A friend of mine even made a pretend movie camera with a workable red light!Introducing your preschooler to movie-making software for beginners will set the stage for the creation of more sophisticated video compilations popular with school-age kids.

  • Screen media provides access to the world your child may otherwise not have.

    Supplement discussion with images and video of new and historic places, people, animals, and objects. Multimodal learning has been well demonstrated to be more effective and more fun!

  • Encourage video conferencing with family and friends. 

    Your village no longer has to live in your town. The more humans delighted with everything your babies do, the better! Pair up with your child to create a family blog on a free site like http://www.blogger.com. And don’t forget to share their artwork and keep them in your personal folder. One day you’ll cherish them.

ASK DUMB QUESTIONS:

  • When in doubt, consult the experts.

    Real-life and online experts, such as your child (ha-ha), early childhood educators, psychologists, and pediatricians, are available on- and off-line to help guide your technology decisions. Don’t be afraid to ask; you’re not alone. And please share what you’ve learned with other parents (like www.GetKidsInternetSafe.com)!

Trying out any of these tips qualifies you as a GKIS awesome parent. I thank you, your kids thank you, and the world thanks you.

I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetYourKidsInternetSafe.

Onward to More Awesome Parenting,

Tracy S. Bennett, Ph.D.
Mom, Clinical Psychologist, CSUCI Adjunct Faculty
GetKidsInternetSafe.com

GO-TO RESOURCES:

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Children, Adolescents, Obesity, and the Media.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/1/201.full?sid=76ab%208514-4aef-4a0c-820f-5fc58436d50b

American Psychological Association Public Policy Update: Shaping Technology’s Impact.
http://www.apa.org/monitor

Commonsense Media Mission Statement: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission

Let’s Move.gov Let’s Move Child Care Initiative. 5 Simple Steps for Parents  http://www.letsmove.gov/reduce-screen-time-and-get-active

National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College joint position statement: Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.
http://www.naeyc.org/content/technology-and-young-children

Scholastic: Home of Parent & Child Magazine
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/life-and-learning/what-to-know/ages-6-7

All kids deserve love from all directions. Treasure the teachers who give it and spread yours to the kids who aren’t so easy to love. They need it the most.

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Dr. Tracy Bennett
Dr. Tracy Bennett
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