To be perfectly candid upfront, I have a 6-year-old boy who has a tendency to pose with imaginary guns and play fight with his father to the point where someone usually gets kneed in the unmentionables. But this behavior was a conscious choice I allowed (not the accidental groin kick but the general aggression), and even encouraged, for I see the value in my child learning how to raise his fists when needed against the monsters of the world, whether they be in his mind or standing in front of him.

Chinese netizens are up in arms about the latest government censorship of a number of cartoon series for children, the most popular of which is probably Ultraman Tiga. If you are unfamiliar, Ultraman (affectionately called 奥特曼 Ào tè màn by locals) is a Japanese animated series that dates back to the 80s, so I was surrounded by it growing up in Southeast Asia. The most similar American version from the same era I could liken Ultraman to would be Power Rangers, which I myself preferred. As of Sep 24, the Ultraman Tiga series was unavailable on most popular Chinese streaming services such as iQiyi and Youku.

If you are familiar with either Ultraman or Power Rangers, then you might, like myself be wondering, “Why has it been banned?” Well, according to news sources, “Ultraman Tiga involves violent plots such as armed beating, multi-person intimidation, arson, and explosions.”

At the risk of sounding like a realist, I just have to say that anything that actually happens in the real world is something that kids should learn about. That doesn’t mean you should introduce “Breaking Bad” to your 3-year-old, but it does mean that all of us need to face up to some hard truths – violence exists, bullies are very real, and death is a part of life.

The point of the stories we tell, be it in the form of cartoons or feature films, is to reflect life’s struggles and to provide some inspiration for us to believe that good will triumph over evil, as it happens in pretty much every kids’ story. Is there some fighting along the way? Why yes of course. Otherwise, it would just be another lecture about moral values. “[D]emonizing violent entertainment can do great harm to their emotional development,” reads the synopsis of Gerard Jones’ provocative parental guide – “Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super-Heroes, And Make-Believe Violence”. You can see how I was inspired by this impactful title.

Jones elaborates, “violent video games, movies, music, and comics provide a safe fantasy world within which children learn to become familiar with and control the frightening emotions of anger, violence, and sexuality.” As for our fear that kids, sponges that they are, will be unable to differentiate between the real world and the screen world, Jones waives that concern with a steadfast belief that kids “clearly understand the difference between pretend and reality”.

Instead of worrying about the violent content of children’s cartoons, there are some more pressing impressions that kids might be receiving from the media they consume. Mom to 10-year-old twin boys and head of schools at The Children’s House Katleen Mentens is concerned about the nuanced prejudices inherent in so many kids’ shows, “I feel that the language used in so-called non-violent shows or movies is equally important and often goes unnoticed or receives little attention. Seemingly innocent remarks like “girls shouldn’t….” or “he’s smart but such a nerd”, (and the list goes on and on, often have a much deeper (but perhaps not as immediately noticeable) effect on how children see and understand the world.”

While I will concede that children are more likely to play rough especially after watching action-packed shows, they simply need a reminder to control their strength and movement. International school teacher Matt M says that a “talk before watching to warn them about rough-playing after TV time has worked” to help regulate behavior. Isn’t that what growing up is about after all – learning to adapt to different situations and knowing how to act properly? Kids watching these fantastic shows will sooner comprehend the times when they need to stand up for themselves, rather than be caught off-guard by the realities of life one day.

KEEP READING: 一，二，三! Methods and Apps To Help Your Child Learn Chinese

Images: Pexels, Unsplash

“I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health”

– Fred Rogers 1969

Last week I sat and watched a documentary about the transformative and inspirational impact of one of America’s longest-running and most loved children’s television programs. The film tells the story behind the origins and conceptualization of the show, Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood, and its equally inspiring and beloved creator and host, Fred Rogers.

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was littered with relatable parables for kids that spoke of the importance of acceptance, compassion, and integrity. The show not only demonstrated these seemingly loaded virtues with simplicity and flair, but also dealt with the inner workings of human emotions: how and what tools can be used to deal with anger, sadness, and love for yourself and others.

I thought to myself what a rare beacon of light this show must have been to thousands, and how contemporary children’s viewing matched in comparison. The program reflected shifting societal attitudes and the political climate of the time, often combating old tropes regarding race and gender, and purposefully running a moral commentary on the woes, angst, and social responsibility of a nation that underwent some of the most radical changes and socio-political turmoil of the 21st Century. The host and the show were in turn radical in their approach to contending with pressing issues such as discrimination, terrorism, and financial cuts to children’s programming. 

Mister Rogers shared his garden paddling pool with the African-American neighborhood cop on the show, at a time when the nation was enforcing segregation in public pools. In 1969 he addressed the US Senate Subcommittee on Communication to defend public television from budget cuts and appeal for 20 million dollars in funding. This he did during an era of austerity for the public television industry and won, and in 2001, using evocative melodies on his piano, he encouraged and uplifted families across the nation in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Rogers won the 1969 case because the message of his show was too important to society and the values that needed to be upheld, when hope was deficient in the lives of so many. His show helped shape the hearts and minds of a generation of little ones and their families. What can be said for what’s on offer today for our kids?

We of course want to encourage educational viewing in our homes for the whole family, especially growing children, whose minds are developing at startling rates each day. There is a growing demand for more educational children’s programming, some of which has been met with more dynamic and versatile TV viewing options for kids. However, after looking into the historical, social, and personal impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the imprint of its messages within the home of millions remains unrivaled and its approach unsurpassed. 

One moment in the documentary filled me with utter longing for a program like this one to exist in our time. When addressing the US Senate, Mr Rogers asked, “Could I tell you the words of one of the songs, which I feel is very important?” He went on to say, “This has to do with that good feeling of control which I feel that children need to know is there. And it starts out, ‘What do you do with the mad that you feel?’”

He then recited the following:

What do you do with the mad that you feel? When you feel so mad you could bite. When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong, and nothing you do seems very right. What do you do? Do you punch a bag? Do you pound some clay or some dough? Do you round up friends for a game of tag or see how fast you go? It’s great to be able to stop when you’ve planned the thing that’s wrong. And be able to do something else instead – and think this song –

“I can stop when I want to. Can stop when I wish. Can stop, stop, stop, anytime… And know that the feeling is really mine. Know that there’s something deep inside that helps us become what we can…”

With the onslaught of on-screen violence and special effects, I believe Mr Rogers was acutely aware of the future that was to come for children’s television. “We don’t have to bob somebody over the head to…make drama on the screen”, he once said. Hidden deep within his message was the quiet observation and acknowledgement that shows such as his would soon be heavily competing and vying for the attention of little ones, as mainstream private children’s networks took over the airwaves with jump-cut editing, slapstick violence, and message-less narratives. 

That’s not to say that public media hasn’t continued to successfully provide educational programming which remains popular and trusted. And many politicians still oppose the elimination of federal funding for public television in America. Unfortunately American President, Donald Trump, like his predecessor Nixon did in 1969, is trying to pull all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports networks such as NPR and PBS. 

Mr Rogers died in 2003, but not before being honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and the rerun syndication of 900 episodes of his show on PBS. Tom Hanks has recently brought to life the beloved advocate for kindness, in a new movie titled, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Based on true events, the film tells the story of reporter Tom Junod’s real-life friendship with Rogers, which began when he wrote an article about the TV personality. He and his show have been sorely missed, and as a newbie to his creative output, I for one can’t imagine who would be able to so eloquently fight for the rights of children to access quality-driven public media the way he so passionately did. 

With that I’ll leave you with the “expression of care” Mr Rogers gave to each child he spoke to through the television screen at the end of each episode, to help them realize their uniqueness:

“You’ve made this day a special day. By just your being you. There’s no person in the whole wide world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.” 

Photos: www.92y.org, www.slate.com

It never occurred to me to look into the damage that can be caused by simply watching more television than one should or spending too much time using multiple devices. Television has and will most likely continue to be a pastime that transcends all or most generations. The nature of television continues to evolve and adapt to the times in which we live; becoming more interactive by the year and keeping us all up to date with information pertaining to every whim popular culture decides is relevant to our lives, keeping our children entertained and enthralled and of course providing an electronic oasis of escapism for whoever needs or wants it.

Growing up with a little brother with special needs who was obsessed with Scooby Doo is what first brought my attention to a book entitled, Remotely Controlled. My brother was not only obsessed with watching this and other similarly paced cartoons, but it was his behavior during and after these colorful episodes that made me conscious about the harm they could be doing. A lot of my brothers’ obsession with cartoons had every bit to do with the need they met to not only provide entertainment but also function as a source of repetition that a child on the spectrum so craves.

We all have come to learn, of course, that the digital age and its many partners in crime; smartphones, tablets, and laptops – have made addicts of us. If the somewhat well-rounded, educated individual can become addicted to screen time what could be the potential impact on children and the more vulnerable among this group: children with learning challenges. While reading Remotely Controlled, I was provided with succinct answers to why my little brother behaved in certain ways and why many cartoons are produced in such a way that can lead to both short- and long-term effects on a child’s behavior; their interaction with others, their relationship with time, tasks, and language.

The need for constant stimulation, instant gratification, and the inability to handle complex problems that do not have quick solutions are all contributing factors spurred on by too much time with the small screen.

My brother would hurriedly try and repeat every word spoken within a segment of Scooby Doo while mimicking every exaggerated movement the animated pencil strokes made. His actions seemed erratic but it was purely a mirroring of what he was consuming. In turn more controlled and calming activities would go by the wayside and I could tell that his issues with speech and learning were only being exacerbated by his constant consumption of television.

To my surprise and elation (my concerns were given validation) Scooby Doo was actually given a mention and used as a prime example of cartoons that contain multiple jump-cut edits that can be cognitively harmful if watched repeatedly. A jump-cut edit basically results in transitions from scene to scene happening almost simultaneously. Conceptually, time breaks down into smaller, quicker, more instantaneous pockets of action. For example, Scooby and his gang could go from running through a deep forest to taking refuge in a cave within half a second. We miss what it takes to get the group of mystery busters through the forest and into the cave – we miss the journey.

Why is this important? Well, we must all learn patience; we must all learn to apply ourselves to tasks that will often take more than 60 seconds to achieve. We must all learn to enjoy longer-awaited forms of gratification. We must all learn to listen more than one should speak and of course always improve upon a very old art form – communication.  According to analytics company, Nielsen, 2-5-year-olds watch more than 32 hours of television a week, adversely affecting speech, behavior, and brain development. We all have the right to have our health and development prioritized over the mass consumption of something that has been proven to cause severe harm.

New Research at London’s Institute of Psychiatry concludes that attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is a real problem in children and that early exposure to television during critical periods of brain development (adolescence) can be associated with subsequent attentional problems. In Remotely Controlled, Psychologist Dr. Sigmund speaks on the importance of proposing the following when raising young children in the home and there are some extra tips thrown in for families who want to curb screen time!

• Limit television time to no more than an hour a day for 1-5 year-olds
• Make use of other play and past time activities. Replace the tablet with a book, board game, crafts, or a favorite toy
• If the television must have a home in your house, then make it the living area. No television in children’s bedrooms.
• Remove cellphones from children’s bedrooms at night and return them in the morning after breakfast
• Sit down as a family and discuss how you would all like to manage your screen time. Make a plan and stick to it!

Now that school is back in session, many families will be struggling to balance screen time at home. Lots of kids would happily while away the hours in a zombie-like trance, bathed in the twilight glow of a flickering screen, but the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that moderation, supervision, quality, and cooperative engagement are key when it comes to balancing screen time. Screen time is defined as the time spent using screens such as computers, televisions, video games, and digital handheld devices.

Every year, the figures for “total hours watched” continue to rise, and there’s a yawning chasm between expert recommendations and actual viewing patterns. Psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman recently published an influential review on the effects of screen time on children around the world. He found that, by the time the average child turns 18, they will have watched the equivalent of three years of continuous, 24/7 screen media. To make sense of it all, we examine official recommendations, weigh the pros and cons of screen time, and speak to two Beijing families about their philosophies of tech-in-action.

Listed opposite are just a few of the pros and cons of screen time, which families may want to consider before setting out their own rules.

Pros:
Trained Brain: A series of recent studies found that playing video games can have a positive impact on concentration and decision-making skills. While gaming, kids receive instant reinforcement and reward for focusing on a task and making quick decisions.
Box-ing Clever: TV can be both an effective entertainer and educator. Shows like Sesame Street and Blue’s Clues revolutionized children’s television. Limited co-viewing of these programs with parents can have positive learning effects. In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell credits these educational TV shows with creating a learning epidemic in preschoolers. Kids may love Elmo and Blue, but the shows are painstakingly and scientifically designed to direct their attention toward the real star – learning.
Better Hand-Eye Coordination: Multiple studies have shown that playing video games that require finely-tuned spatial skills go on to build hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity away from the screen.
Big Mother: Installing GPS tracking software on children’s phones is a growing trend. There are many free apps available
to turn your child’s smart phone into a device locator. Even if they forget to text or call, you can still track of their whereabouts. Check out free apps Securafone, Life360, or SMS Tracker (available for both Android and iPhone).
Tech to Teach: In traditional education, students learned what the teacher had to teach. Technology has advanced student-centered learning and served as the catalyst for an educational revolution. In today’s classrooms, teachers are using technology to drive dialogical learning and facilitate self-directed research. For today’s digital natives (the kids who’ve grown up swiping and typing), self-directed learning is as automatic and reflexive as breathing.

Cons:
Shoddy Body: Quality kids’ TV shows encourage movement and console makers have released active games for Wii and Xbox Kinect, but screen time generally leaves kids slumped in one position for hours. Sedentary behavior increases the prevalence of obesity and disturbed sleep.
I Don’t Think You’re Ready for this Telly: The average American child consumes three to four hours of TV and five to seven hours of screen time in total every day. Excessive TV, particularly on weekdays, can lead to worsened school performance. The problems are compounded for the 70 percent of American children who have a TV in their bedrooms (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010). These kids watch more TV and more violent programming each day, as bedroom viewing tends to be unsupervised. No wonder these little tykes suffer from nightmares and disordered sleep!
Damaged Eyes and Hands: In addition to the obesity risk, there are other screen-specific ill effects to beware of, such as eye strain, and repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and iPad finger.
Big Brother: Kids who grew up on the web may think nothing of tweeting their every thought. However, a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey confirmed that over 25 percent of university admission officials investigate applicants online.  Some students have even had their college offers revoked due to inappropriate remarks. Students need to be aware of and manage their digital footprint appropriately.
A Web of Lies: When a deadline is looming, many students resort to plagiarism. The Internet makes it too easy for students to copy and paste vast chunks of text or pay for a professionally-written term paper. According to the Ad Council and Educational Testing Service, over 75 percent of college cheaters admitted they began cutting corners in high school. If students plagiarize their way through, they miss out on developing vital critical analysis and writing skills.

What Do Experts Say?
In a study published earlier this year, Northwestern University revealed that most parents not only ignore guidelines on screen time, but are not generally concerned about media use. Given the widespread incidence of excessive screen time and its
potentially damaging effects on health and learning, it’s clear that there is a major breakdown in communication between parents and experts.
So what are considered safe guidelines? For starters, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that:
Bedrooms and dining tables remain screen-free zones. No TV, computers or video games allowed.
Children over 2 should be limited to no more than two hours of non-school related media per day. Kids learn best by engaging with activities in the real world, such as simply playing and exploring with friends and family.
Children under 2 should completely avoid TV and other entertainment media. Instead, lavish your little ones with human interaction. That initial period of face-to-face learning and communication is critical for their development into a healthy human being.

Parenting 2.0
Even with these guidelines, it can be difficult to figure out how to put it all together. To find out how real families deal with screen time, we spoke to two tech-savvy Beijing parents about their cyber house rules: Silas Newland and Rebecca Taylor.

The Newland Family
Silas Newland: The kids and I are dual US/Canada citizens and Erica is a US citizen. We’ve lived in Beijing almost two years. Erica works for Intel and I work for Morris Williams, a real estate company based in the US. Both Kylie (11) and Lance (9) attend the International Montessori School of Beijing.
What part does screen time play in your family? 
Except on trips longer than 1.5 hours and the odd family movie night, screen time almost exclusively centers on dedicated eReaders such as our Nooks by Barnes & Noble. In the evenings, we play board games, read together, take the dog for a walk, or go for a bike ride. Lance is learning how to code via a program called Small Basic. Both kids enjoy making stop-motion movies and using Microsoft Movie Maker to edit and produce. They’ve made countless Lego movies and scrolling-captures where drawings are wound from one reel to another – think a rocket ship traveling through the galaxy.

Do you restrict screen time? 
We have read many studies that link brain development with the absence of digital media, so having a strict electronics policy from day one was pretty obvious. The children share a computer specifically for school work. Our youngest has access from 4pm to 6pm each day; the oldest gets an additional hour. The Internet is monitored and filtered by McAfee. No games, chat rooms, YouTube, [and the like]can be accessed during those times. In our house, the Internet is for academic endeavors only!
We also worry what the kids might come across online; even innocuous search terms can return very disturbing results! We mitigate the risk by keeping the PC in a common area. I also monitor their apps. I can see everything that’s downloaded, so there’s no possibility of downloading new apps without my knowledge.
Do your kids have a TV in their bedroom?
No one in the family has a TV in the bedroom, as we think it creates too much focus on television and makes it harder to manage screen time.
Do you experience conflict with your children over screen time? 
We have been using the same methods for a few years now and there are no conflicts about the rules. Although we can limit screen time at our house, it is impossible to manage it at other people’s homes, and we know we will have still less control as they mature. But if we’ve done our job right, they will make good choices whether we are there or not.

How was your childhood different from your kids’ when it comes to screen time?
Growing up in Vermont, I lived between mountains that blocked all television reception, and my childhood tech revolved around the sole PC that my school had available to the students.
Are there benefits to exposing kids to technology at a young age?
Technology is everywhere and very easy to interact with. Our children have plenty of exposure to “screen time” through school and our limited allowance. I don’t believe there’s any risk that tech-light kids will be left behind. If we create a love of learning, then children will embrace technology at the right time as an additional tool.
The Taylor Family
Rebecca Taylor:  We’re an Australian family beginning our fifth year in Beijing. Doug is one of the elementary technology integrators at the Western Academy of Beijing; I am an elementary teacher currently working from home promoting my online children’s shoe business and finishing my Master’s of Teacher Librarianship. We have two kids: son Will (4) and daughter Charlotte (1). Will attends WAB.
What part does screen time play in your family? 
We never put the TV on at home unless we’re watching sports as a family.  Instead, we ride our bikes, do puzzles, read a lot, and most of all engage in imaginative play. We believe that the family that plays together stays together! We also watch DVDs once a week; often, it’s Thomas the Tank Engine – Will’s favorite. Will also loves the tactile, interactive nature of the iPad. He usually makes a movie every weekend with his dad Doug, which can take two to three hours.
Do you restrict screen time? 
At Will’s age, under an hour of screen time is plenty; for Charlotte, there is none. We also avoid using electronic devices at meal times. At restaurants, we take a “restaurant bag,” which has toys, books, and play dough inside. We limit screen time rigorously because I see how zoned-out Will becomes after 30 minutes. His body and brain need stimulation, especially physical movement, and screen time reduces that considerably.  When Will is over-engaged in tech, he’s not aware of his surroundings, he can’t hear us when we talk to him, he loses track of time, and he sometimes even forgets to go to the toilet.

Do your kids have a TV in their bedroom?
I am passionately against TVs in the bedroom. There’s so much crap out there that is absolutely unsuitable for kids. Why risk exposing them to sex and violence when they really don’t need to see it? I am even more passionately against bedroom computers. The net is so full of predators and unsuitable content. Children need our guidance to navigate all the muck.

Do you experience conflict with your children over screen time?
Not currently, as they are simply too young. But the situation may change as they get older and peer pressure gets stronger. I hope that by discussing with them the rights and responsibilities they have as members of our family and of the community, they learn to value the concept of balance.
How was your childhood different from your kids’ when it comes to screen time?
What screen time? We watched the occasional movie and some cartoons on weekend mornings. I didn’t use a computer consistently until I left home to board for Grade 11 and 12. I didn’t even have a cell phone till the ripe old age of 21!
Are there benefits of exposing kids to technology at a young age?
Purposeful, supervised technology can be exciting, educational and fun – a great springboard into the plugged-in world. But it’s critical that tech is about creation, not just consumption. Creative technology could potentially transform society with communal wisdom and global change. Tech can be used for harm but, overwhelmingly, it can be used for social good. It’s up to parents and educators to guide kids through the information maze, and open them up to the wider world.

Resources
1. Books
Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax
Examines the correlation between screen time and underachieving young men.
Screen Time by Lisa Guernsey
Recommends that parents focus on “the three C’s”: content, context, and the individual child.
The Winter of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart
A mother of three teenage kids pulls the plug on family tech and reaps the benefits in better communication.
2. Websites
www.letsmove.gov/reduce-screen-time-and-get-active
Advice on screen time from US First Lady Michelle Obama’s program to tackle childhood obesity.

Recommended Apps for Learning
Pre-School and Kindergarten
1. Endless Alphabet
Monsters teach letters.
2. Bugs and Buttons
A wide range of mathematical and literacy games.
3. SquiggleFish
Draw and color fish to populate an aquarium.

Elementary
1. Book Creator
Make your own books.
2. Puppet Pals Directors Pass
Star in your own cartoon!
3. iMotion HD
Create stop motion or time lapse videos.

Middle and High School
1. Evernote
Take, store and share notes
2. Khan Academy
Thousands of videos on many subjects.
3. Studious
Plan your homework and exam prep.

Middle and High School
1. Evernote
Take, store and share notes
2. Khan Academy
Thousands of videos on many subjects.
3. Studious
Plan your homework and exam prep.

photos by Mitchell Pe Masilun

This article originally appeared on p56-61 of the beijingkids September 2013 issue.

Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

Our previous blogs spotlighted comedies and supernatural dramas that were suitable for a teen audience. However, a portion of the teenage population has been drawn to a more suspenseful and intriguing selection of crime dramas. These shows tend to feature a much more serious tone (though not without a healthy dose of humor) and focus on the lives of criminals – or those who pursue them.

Sherlock

Freda Zhao is a beijingkids intern (of the month) currently studying at the Western Academy of Beijing. She is one year from graduating high school. Outside of school work, she enjoys reading, painting, and mimicking cat sounds in her backyard (to draw strays to her house and feed them)

The medical institution reported that children with strict time limits were generally less likely to watch TV and more likely to be physically active. Children with no restrictions are at higher risk for obesity, eating disorders, poor academic achievement, alcohol abuse, and aggressive behavior. The center mentioned the importance of both parents and kids agreeing on the telly watching criteria, as they were more likely to be adhered to. A Global Times article stated that the most important factor in healthy TV habits is the ability of the parents to serve as active role models for their children.

Still, the researchers emphasize that it’s not just about using a particular kind of stroller, but about how babies experience their environment and how parents should make the most of every opportunity to talk and play with their infants. Here’s a shocker: Watching TV isn’t as bad for babies as you might think. In fact, it doesn’t seem to have either negative or positive effects on infants’ language or visual motor skills, according to a study published in the US medical journal Pediatrics. So go ahead, don’t feel guilty about plopping baby in front of the tube. As long as the TV-watching is done in moderation, of course; there’s plenty of other evidence to show a link between obesity, poor sleep, and attention problems with being a junior couch potato. Take your vitamins! Yet more news about the importance of prenatal vitamins for moms-to-be. New research finds that women with low levels of vitamin B12 just before and after conceiving were up to five times likelier to have a baby with a congenital defect. (Folic acid, also a B vitamin, has already been established as an important prenatal vitamin that prevents neural defects.) Who’s at the highest risk for having low vitamin B12 levels? Women who eat little meat or animal-based food. And don’t forget, some major health organizations, like the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in the US, are advocating the idea of “preconception health” for all women of childbearing age, since by some estimates, half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Photograph from Qole Pejorian of Flickr.