When you think of newspapers, television, radio, or hear the word “media,” what kinds of things do you think of? Do you also think of “children” and how much they hear and see in the media? You may not automatically think – children – but there are good reasons why you should. Here are some statistics on media and children (age birth through six) from a 2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Children Birth Through Age Six:

* 99% live in a home with a TV,

* 50% live in a home with three or more TVs,

* 75% live in a home with a computer,

* 63% live in a home with internet access, and

* 34% have a newspaper subscription in their home.

Media is Everywhere

We live in a world of instant information and entertainment at your fingertips. There’s a variety of media – whether it’s movies, radio, music, newspapers or magazines – and it is everywhere and a part of everything. As the numbers show, TV, radio, books, computers, and a variety of other media instantly become a part of a newborn’s world. Many babies listen to music from wind-up stuffed toys, CDs or recorded songs.

So why talk about media? What does it mean to children and to you as parents?

Is it Good for Your Children?

Whether TV, computer games, or popular music is “good” or “bad” for children is an ongoing concern for many parents. Children of all ages can be exposed to violence, sexual images, and curse words through TV, video games, songs, or the internet.

This is a fact that parents, child care providers and other adults are aware of and have to address. It may be hard for parents to keep up with what’s “new” or what exactly is being shown or said in the many types of media their children can access. Whether media is good or bad for your child can sometimes be answered by asking yourself these questions:

* “Is it appropriate for my child’s age and maturity level?”

* “Knowing my child as I do, is there a chance it may do harm or have a negative effect on her?”

* “Do I want my child to see or hear or read it?”

Childcareaware.org