Children under 2.5 or 3 years old learn better from a real-world than from an equivalent media. They develop the ability of dual representation (need to represent TV as something they learn from) around 3 years old.

Learning two “5”

Children follow 5 steps to learn new things

Sensory register: receives input from the environment and registers it for processing

Information processing: Approach that describes how people learn using a computer analogy

Short-term memory: Holds information temporarily

Long-term memory: Stores information processed from short term memory for later retrieval

Learning response: Recognize and recall information from short- and long-term memory.

5 capabilities that contribute to social learning

Symbolization: can think about social behavior in words and images

Forethought: anticipate consequences of our own and others’ actions

Self-regulation: adopt standards of acceptable behavior for us (aspirational, social, moral)

Self-reflection: analyze our thoughts and actions

Vicarious learning: learn by watching others be rewarded and punished

Parenting instructions:

Media is a new environment for children. Parents should guide them to adapt to the environment.

Consider media as an optional tool for learning. Parents’ companion is necessary for children’s development. It always better to learn from real-world than from the screen.

Don’t use it as an emotional pacifier. Parents should not use TV or other media to calm down their children. They need to learn to control their emotion.

Set limits and encourage playtime. Kids are kids. They will make mistakes using media. Parents’ surveillance is indispensable.

Be a good role model. Except for limiting children’s on-screen playtime, parents should control their time on using media each day.

Here is a video explaining how TV affect young children’s brain development

Ball & Bogatz (1970) – research on Sesame Street

Children could learn basic information

Literacy skills

Preschool readiness skills

Other studies showed learning from a single episode or clip

Better learning with repetition.

Topics

Play with your child!

For ages 5-8 children, play Animal Crossing.

Through the game, you can create a home with your child. It is good way to interact with cute animal villagers and enjoy life in the game.

For ages 8-12 children, play Lego

You can introduce children to a franchise you already love.

For age 12+ children, play World of Warcraft

If you want to go off on a long fantasy adventure in which you and your children will have to learn to work together and depend on each other, the venerable World of Warcraft provides the most expansive and appropriate virtual realm.

Game one

Game two

Game three

Schiesel, Seth. (2020). Video Games to Play With Your Kinds That Won’t Drive You Crazy. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/arts/video-games-kids-parents-covid-virus-coronavirus.html.

Flynn, Rachel M. (2021). CAD_660 Media and Learning Week 3 PPT. iLearn. https://ilearn.sfsu.edu/ay2021/pluginfile.php/1269859/mod_resource/content/1/CAD_660%20media%20and%20learning%20Week%2011.pdf.

Flynn, Rachel M. Rebekah A. Richert. Amanda E. Staiano. Ellen Wartella. Sandra L. Calvert. (2013). Effects of Exergame Play on EF in Children and Adolescents at a Summer Camp for Low Income Youth. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Vol. 4, No. 1: 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jedp.v4n1p209.

Lego City Fire and Police: Kids Play with Legos Toys: Fire Station and Engines, Police Truck. (2017).

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Children and Media: Tips for Parents. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/children-and-media-tips-parents

Reference