• We might think that it is educational for children to watch the news to find out more about the world. Unfortunately, most television news tends to focus on events that are shocking or dramatic. News broadcasts often feature clips of disasters, attacks, and other kinds of human suffering. Television news stories are written for grown-ups. They do not provide the kind of details that children need in order to understand an incident.
• Because children haven't had much experience in the world they lack the "filter" that adults have to understand and digest events. The fragmented pictures and sound bites that come across on news programs can be very disturbing.
• Help your children learn about the world from the places you take them, the books you read to them and television shows that are designed especially for their age group and level of understanding.
• Once your children begin watching the news (third or fourth grade depending upon their maturity) it is important to view and discuss the news together.
• Analyze the news together. Before viewing the news, have your children estimate how many news events will be good news and how many will be bad news. Help your children keep track of the good news and the bad news. Was their original estimate close to their findings?
• Evaluate TV news with your children. Discuss together: Who was involved? What happened? When, Where and Why did the event happen? How did it happen? Was it a factual report? Was the reporter's point of view evident? How do you feel about this news? Why do you think more bad news is reported than good news?
• Provide news reporting experience. Encourage your child to write a news report about a family event. Tell the Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? of the event. Suggest they give the report at a family gathering.

A WORD ABOUT VIOLENCE


• Most children initially find violent images upsetting. But when they are seen, over and over again the images become routine and less frightening. Even the fighting on cartoon shows and video games can increase the likelihood of your children beginning to see violence as an acceptable way to respond to problems and conflicts. Public Television series show children many other ways to resolve problems peacefully.