Most of us tend to assume that a child either watches television or reads. But in a national survey of librarians, 85 percent said that book-based television boosts children’s interest in reading, and 40 percent said television increases children’s use of libraries
Wonderful programming exists for children of every age, but parents have to do a bit of sleuthing to find it.
Check through and circle all programs of interest in your TV guide. Ask your child to share in this activity so she’ll learn to be a selective viewer.
Watch television together. You need not sit down to view every program your child enjoys, although you should do so whenever you believe she will be exposed to things that may need to be explained. Just be sure that the TV set is centrally located in your home so that you can monitor those programs that your child watches on her own.
Not all TV is trashy. Look for reading linked programs. Finding the link between TV and reading is essential, according to Dorothy Singer, Ph.D. “Pick up the book for a story that is soon to be turned into a TV drama or movie,” she advises. “Encourage your child to read the story first so t hat he can make his own mental images of the characters and the scenes. The, after viewing, discuss what was different in the TV version from is own visualization. Did he feel t he important parts were left out?”
Commercial television offers a terrific opportunity to discuss your own values, problem-solving skills, and reality and fantasy. These programs can also help increase a child’s vocabulary, enhance his sense of humor, and give him the downtime that he, like all of us, needs.
Your guidance matters most. The critical element in helping your child more comfortably from books to TV and back again is your guidance. “There are many ways to make the connection”, notes Singer, “but a child won’t do this himself. It’s that extra bit of effort from the parent that makes the difference.”
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