Managing Media
How many times have you stood in front of your local video rental store and wondered what on earth was appropriate for your family?
Are you worried about the impact on your child when he wins points by shooting his enemy in a video game or cheers on his superhero idol who blows up the bad guy in a movie?
And what do we do about all those beer commercials our kids are seeing every time they watch a ball game on TV?
These are just some of the hundreds of dilemmas parents face every day. For some common sense wisdom, download the survival guides and tip sheets below.
Media & Today's Children
Keeping Kids Healthy in a 24/7 Media World: A Survival Guide for Parents
Good health is about more than strong bones and good teeth. It's about physical, mental, social, and emotional wellness. The media messages and images that our kids consume through TV, movies, video games, the Internet, music, and cell phones shape their values and behavior in ways that can be healthy or unhealthy. But media runs right through the center of our kids' lives, so what's a parent to do? It's up to us to help them use the media they love both wisely and well.
This free guide includes information, facts and Common Sense tips.
Get more information on how media matters to our kids' health and a free copy of the Survival Guide.
Keeping Kids Internet Safe and Smart: A Survival Guide for Parents
Our kids have busy online lives and love it, so what's a parent to do about this tool that gives them direct access to age-inappropriate content and risky social contacts? Since we can't always cover their eyes, we have to teach them to see. This free guide includes information and safety tips for each of the five activities our kids do online: communicating, social networking, gaming, surfing, and downloading.
Also available in the guide:
- Internet Survival Tips for Parents and Adults
- Internet Survival Tips for Kids
- The Internet by Age and Stage
Get more information on Internet safety and a free copy of the Survival Guide.
Common Sense Tips for a Healthy Media Diet
Just as you teach your kids the basics of good nutrition, you can help them learn how to use media wisely. Establish a healthy media diet for your family using these straightforward ideas.
Common Sense Tips for a Healthy Media Diet »
Common Sense Tips for a Healthy Media Diet for Young Kids »
Spanish Version (Versión Española)
Consejos de Common Sense para una Dieta de medios de comunicación Saludable para Niños Pequeños
Media Violence and Kids
Use this checklist to identify the potential influence of violent media on your child's development.
Spanish Version (Versión Española)La violencia en los medios y su efecto en los niños
Selling to Kids
Protect your children from being exploited by advertisers by helping them understand how advertising works.
Spanish Version (Versión Española)Venta Dirigida a los Niños
My Child's Media Diet
How much do you know about your kid's media use? Answer the questions on this form and ask your child to fill out his/her own using the form "My Media Diet." Then compare the two. You may be surprised by how little or how much they match!
My Media Diet
Have your kid fill out this simple form to get a better sense of his/her media habits. You can fill out your own form, "My Child's Media Diet," and compare the results.
Talking to Your Kids about Junk Food and Fast Food Advertising
Help your kids understand junk food and fast food advertising "tricks."
Talking to Your Kids about Junk Food and Fast Food Advertising »
Top Ten Tips for Kids for Viral Media
Tips for kids to have fun and stay safe when they use viral media (MySpace, IMing, text messages, etc.)
Using Media to Teach Kids
Scenes from TV shows, movies, etc. are full of opportunities to teach your child a lesson about life. Here are some tips on how you can take advantage of these Teachable Moments.
Spanish Version (Versión Española)Utilizando a los Medios como una Herramienta de Enseñanza Infantil
Age Appropriate Guidelines
The following grid is designed to quickly show you what child development experts feel is developmentally appropriate for different age groups. Because every child and every family is different, it is only a rough guide, but we do use it to guide our ratings.
Consult our Content Based Criteria for Determining Age Appropriateness
Discussion Guides
One great way to enjoy media and get the most out of it is to find other parents and create a media club like a book club. Since our members frequently ask for ways to talk about current movies, music, videogames, and books with their kids, we now offer Discussion Guides for Common Sense Conversations. The list below is organized alphabetically by title of the specific media. Simply click on the link, download the PDF, print and enjoy.
Bridge to Terabithia Discussion Guide »
Whenever a much-loved, award-winning book is made into a movie, it creates a great opportunity for family discussion (since parents don't always read their kids' books). These topics will get you started. (Spoiler alert: The last few questions hint at the ending.)
Award Shows »
Get ideas for talking to your family about what these shows reveal about our culture's obsession with celebrity, skinny women -- and buying lots of stuff.
Black. White. »
If you've been watching the racial-switch experiment on FX these thoughtful tips will help you to talk about race-related issues and expectations.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe »
Gossip Girl and other "Glam-Girl" Book Series »
The questions in this Discussion Guide will help you start a conversation with your teens about everything from the books' sexy contents, to their emphasis on clothing labels and mean girl behavior.
Have suggestions for other guides we should create? Send us an email. We'd love to hear your ideas!
