Many parents would like their children to become more critical television viewers, but often they are at a loss as to how to help them do this. Here are some suggestions to try.
If you talk about these things just a little every day, your kids will begin to think as they watch TV. They will learn to use TV, instead of being used by it.
- People are smarter than television. Connect what is seen to real life. Ask kids how they would handle a TV situation; it will help them with critical thinking and problem solving. Praise their ideas.
- TV's world is not real. Let them in on some of the illusions. Mention the laugh tracks; turn off the volume and see if it's still funny. Tell them that white glue poses as milk in cereal commercials.
- TV teaches that some people are more important than others. Point out the predominance of white male perspectives compared to those of women and minorities. Keep track of what people are shown as victims or losers. Do TV people look and dress like regular folks?
- TV keeps doing the same thing over and over. Make a game out of counting the camera shots in a car chase scene. Check out the music changes during an action climax. Add up how many shows a week are actually the same story with different actors.
- Somebody's always trying to make money with television. Count up the number of commercials in a half-hour and time them. Show kids how cartoons are used to promote toys and vice-versa. Ask why Nike ads appear on sports shows, but not on sitcoms. What kind of shows advertise beer? Cars? Cosmetics? Help them see that everything they see is influenced by someone's desire to sell a product.