 |
| Precious little eyes and ears |
I like to keep a very close tab on every book, movie, or game my children see. As technology and media permeate our world, I feel compelled to diligently monitor what goes through the little eyes and ears of my family members. That’s why I’m so thankful that my tech savvy friend Don introduced me to Common Sense Media. (Everyone needs a tech savvy friend. You got one?)
Common Sense Media is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to offering information about media, including books, movies, apps, and games, to parents, children, and educators. The goal is informed decision making, not censorship. Board Members of Common Sense Media have experience in a wide range of fields, including law, education, and communications, and they provide reviews of products “so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.”
Each review lists a summary of the product and a minimum suggested appropriate age for using/viewing/reading. Entries include specific ratings for content issues that parents need to know about, such as positive messages, positive role models, violence, sex, and substance abuse. You can also access parent and kid reviews, as well as links to other suggested items in a similar genre. Discussion questions are included at the bottom of each entry so that parents can initiate conversations with their kids about the themes and characters they have seen.
I’ve found that in general, the reviews on the site fall in line with my perceptions. For example, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, gets an excellent rating but is recommended for 15 year olds. I agree with the high rating, the warnings provided about controversial content in the novel, and the recommendation for older teen readers.
It’s also interesting to note the discrepancy between kids’ and parents’ insights. The website rated The Hunger Games book as appropriate for 12 year olds, while parents rated it for 13 year olds, and kids rated it for 11 year olds. This accurately reflects what I’ve observed while talking with kids, parents, and teachers about the book.
You have to join the Common Sense Media Community to access content, but it’s a free and simple process. As a member, you can post your own reviews to add to the data base. I’m so happy to find a resource to help me keep up with my kids. Since I don’t have lots of leisure time to sit around and read (like my kids do… oooh I get so jealous!), I need help to guide my children as they choose media to explore. You can bookmark the site or download the iPhone app!
Up until a certain age, I think it’s appropriate to shield adult topics from my children. And as they mature, I want to discuss difficult and controversial issues with them to help build ethical and moral thinking. CommonSense Media gives me the tools to do both.
What resources/websites/tools do you use to screen information? How do you tackle conversations about difficult subjects in media? Please leave your suggestions below.
And thanks to Don Klingen for sharing this great website!
You might also like:
Julia
Thanks for sharing. No kids yet, but if I start teaching middle school again, that website will be helpful.
That’s so interesting. I’m reading Suzanne Collins’ MG series Gregor The Overlander right now, and I keep thinking to myself–this is serious stuff for MG! Like, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone under 13. Then again, after thinking about it for awhile, I thought maybe 11 and up would be okay. There’s no sex/violence/drugs, but there are some very dire circumstances and scary situations that involve endangering a toddler. It’s really pushing my mommy-warning-buttons!
What a great resource! Thanks for sharing it! I always struggle with this, so it’s good to know I’ll have help in the future.
What a great resource, Julia! I’m going to tell my sister and my friends with kids at home. I relied on Plugged In by Focus on the Family. Glad more sites are offering guidance.