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Violence in the Home/World
"These are websites I have visited and like."
"These are books I have available for you to borrow."
Mommy and Daddy are Fighting
A Family That Fights
Something's Wrong at My House
I Wish the Hitting Would Stop
"These are short articles I have written for our school newsletter."
Exposure to War
Media Violence
Exposure to War - Ponderings by Paris…your school counselor
I am so grateful to be going to work in the daylight and shedding my winter coat (for the most part)! I believe cabin fever is over for another season! Even with the joy found in the arrival of spring and all it represents with new life and growth…this is a sad time for our nation with the war, threats and fear surrounding us. When we went to level orange/high alert last month, we sent a letter home with suggestions to help your child and I believe they still hold true for this time:
You are a role model, and your child will gauge their fear and concern based on how you are responding to all the media coverage. Limit their exposure to the TV and other media and when they do see or hear something be available to discuss it. Oftentimes your child’s imagination will cause unnecessary worry only because they are not given an opportunity to discuss their feelings. If your child ask questions, have them explain to you what they know first and that will clue you in to what they are experiencing. You will then be able to give a simple, direct answer to their concern. Support and accept your child’s feelings. If your child asks the same thing over and over, this is a natural process as they try to make sense of everything happening around them. Be sensitive to their needs for more comfort if they begin to feel insecure. Do not let “tummy aches or headaches” keep them from their job of being here at school and learning!
You know you are welcome to call me with any questions or concerns. Your children are in good hands here at Northwood where we care for them as our own!
Media Violence - Ponderings by Paris…your school counselor.
A few months ago I was fortunate to hear Lt. Col. Dave Grossman speak about media violence and our students. He is author of “Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence”. His talk caused me concern about what our children are exposed to and I challenge you to consider these thoughts he shared:
Until a child is 6-7 years of age, it is difficult to separate fantasy from reality. The written word cannot be sorted out independently until about age 8. The spoken word is not processed until around age 4. Visual image however becomes real after 1½ years of age for a child. All that considered should it not cause you to understand that what a child hears and sees on TV or in the movies or with video games is something to be concerned about, even at very young age? Lt. Grossman feels violent, visual imagery is what creates the killers of society. Students that have shot and killed classmates in the recent years had two things in common…they were wrapped up in violent media (TV, movies, video games) and they had very little discipline or someone paying attention to what they were doing.
My question is this…ARE YOU SENSORING WHAT YOUR CHILD IS EXPERIENCING THROUGH THE MEDIA??? It is a fact that our society has become more violent and quite frankly I am frightened by it! In 1972 the Surgeon General released a study that said clearly “media violence causes violence in society”. Why was that never highlighted or campaigned upon like the Surgeon General’s warning about cigarettes? Is it because the media controls what we see and hear? Think about that one! It is harmful to expose your children to the graphic violence or even just the affects of violence that is so “accepted” by society and allowed to flow freely. Will you please pay attention and take a stand against training our kids to kill? Monitor what your young children are exposed to and be sure they are clear about what is real and what is fantasy! You may find more from Lt. Col. Dave Grossman at the web site, www.killology.com, but be prepared! I know this was a “soapbox” issue for me and I hope you know I speak strongly only because I care so much about our students and your children!
