Have you ever wondered which video games are suitable for your child or grandchild? How much TV is too much? How to teach children Internet skills yet keep them safe?
If so, attend a "MediaWise" workshop on November 14 sponsored by the Early Childhood Family Initiative, Perham Head Start, and Perham Community Education.
The workshop will be presented twice, at the Perham Area Public Library from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and again at the Family Resource Center from 6 to 7:30. Child care will be available at both locations and a free meal will be served before the evening program at 5:30. The evening program will be upstairs at the FRC, which is located at 425 4th Ave SE.
"The definition of what it means to be a caring parent must expand to include caring about our children's "media diet," says Sue Estabrook-Anderson, a professional trainer with the MediaWise program. "In an effort to inform parents and other caring adults in the lives of children about the media's influence on our children's attitudes, values and behavior, the Perham sponsors have invited me to share the knowledge I have from working with MediaWise," she added. Participants will learn how media can be a positive or negative influence in children's lives and offer solutions on how participants can become smarter media consumers. Educators, parents, and child care providers can earn continuing education credits for attending either program.
"MediaWise parents are empowered parents, because they can make more informed choices for their children," said Dr. David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family.
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The MediaWise program is the first of its kind in the country. It includes MediaMeasure, a questionnaire which becomes part of the learning process that enables families to look at the many ways media influences our children. This becomes more important as we learn about media's impact on health, development and school performance.
In addition to MediaMeasure, the workshop includes videos, discussion guides, and action plans. Since some of the material shared is graphic in nature, parents are encouraged to take advantage of the child care being offered at each session. For information call the Initiative office at 346-1474.
MediaWise was developed by the National Institute on Media and the Family. The Institute is a nonprofit organization that has become the leading resource for research, education and information about the impact of the Internet.
