Is it illegal to keep students after the bell? This is one of the topics being discussed in the news and media. Aside from that, images of war, terrorist attacks, shootings, attacks, and natural disasters are part of the news. Parents should supervise if their children are watching such kind of news reports.
Children need to be informed
Keeping children off the news is unrealistic and even problematic for the children themselves. If the children notice that their parents are hiding something from them, it may scare them.
Studies show: In most cases, children are aware of bad events, be it a terrorist attack, a sunken boat with refugees, or a poison gas attack. In the mornings you walk past newspaper boxes, incidentally, see clippings on TV, listen to something on the radio or pick up snippets of conversation from parents or at school. However, children tend to have hills of knowledge, that is, and no sound basic knowledge on the basis of which they can classify current events.
It is important to help the children with the classification
Children want to understand their world and are looking for orientation. They have many questions, especially factual questions, and want simple and understandable answers and factual knowledge. The perspectives and experiences of other children are particularly exciting for them.
It is particularly important to only inform children about war, crises, and disasters in an age-appropriate and youth protection-friendly manner. Because even pictures of minor injuries and blood trigger fear reactions in many, which lead to them avoiding further media coverage.
Children’s news on television
The children’s news on television is, therefore, best for children. Good news for children explains complicated issues in a child-friendly way and without frightening pictures. According to studies, news for children is less dramatic than news for adults, it is more optimistic about bad events and focuses on relief efforts and problem-solving. They take the children seriously as a target group.
Good news for children – Current events
- Child-friendly – and not childish or belittled – implemented.
- Illustrated using diagrams and comics suitable for children.
- Explained to the children in context. No background knowledge is required.