Parents are a child’s first teacher and play an essential role in their learning. It’s easy to assume that screen learning is self-contained and does not require parent involvement. However, research has identified an increased likelihood that children learn from media when an adult engages with them about the content. 

We completely understand that it is not always possible to be 100% present for and engaged in  your child’s media use. No matter your situation, there are multiple ways you can support your child’s learning from educational media before, during, and after screen use. If you are able to integrate even one or two of these suggestions you can make a significant impact on your child’s ability to learn from educational media. 

BEFORE USING MEDIA

Laying the foundation for learning from screens starts with knowing your individual child’s skill level. What do they understand about television? How capable are they of using the touchscreen? At the most basic level, children need to understand that images on a screen represent objects in the real world. Part of this understanding develops over time, but you can support this knowledge development by explaining the connection between objects on screen and objects in your child’s environment. Check out our Video Deficit blog for more info.

Next, you can explore your child’s interests. Children are not passive learners and their attention can be guided by their individual curiosity. Get to know what your child enjoys and what they want to learn about. By choosing educational media that contain characters, themes, or songs that your child is interested in, you can help support their learning from screens. Additionally, choose educational media for your child that includes relevant and relatable situations to their life and personal experience. 

Action Items- Before Using Media

• Consider your child and your goal. When selecting media, keep in mind your child’s age, existing knowledge, and preferences. Try your best to pick content that matches their developmental level and what they’re into. That way, their media experience is more likely to pique interest and engage them. If you have a target learning goal for a certain topic, select content that matches that goal.
• Give a preview. Offer a brief verbal overview of the content they’ll be using (e.g., the characters, the episode title, the game rules). This lays a foundation for your child to build upon and primes their brain for learning. 
• Set the boundaries. Explain to your child in detail what this media experience will entail.
  • What will you be doing? Explain if you’ll be watching the show/playing the game with them, sitting with them but responding to emails, leaving the room to do dishes, etc. We recommend being fully present with your child if you want to set the stage for a rich bonding and learning experience. 
  • What do you expect your child to do? Can your child talk about the content with you while you’re watching or do you need some quiet time?
  • How long will the experience last? Explain when screen time will be over. For example, after 20 minutes, an episode, or when the dishes are done. When possible, give a heads-up a few minutes before time is up. Timers and reminders can go a long way in helping to reduce screen time struggles. 

WHILE USING MEDIA

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents and children interact jointly while using media to increase positive outcomes for children. When possible, the ideal way to be involved in your child’s media use is joint media engagement. This is where an adult watches, uses, and talks about media with a child. Joint media engagement creates an opportunity to enrich your child’s screen-based learning.

During screen time, quick prompts can help children stay engaged in the media experience. Focus on directing your child’s attention to important information on screen such as the main characters or educational lessons. This will help them both understand the specific lesson and more broadly to teach them how to determine what is important on screen.  

Action Tips- While Using Media

• Be engaged. If your intention is providing an enriching learning experience through media, actively participate. Snuggle up with your child and focus on them, using media as your teaching tool, but taking advantage of the bonding opportunity as well. 
• Direct attention. Direct your child’s attention to information in the educational goal. Encourage your child to look at important content on the screen and prompt them. Ask questions starting with “who” “what” and “where”.
• Connect, reflect, and predict. Walk with your child through the content. Make connections between the screen and their world, ask them to reflect upon what’s happening, and predict what might happen next.

AFTER USING MEDIA

While joint media engagement is the ideal situation for optimal learning, this isnt’ always possible. There is no guilt in choosing to let your child use educational media while you accomplish some household tasks or take a brain break to re-center. If you aren’t able to be engaged with your child’s media in the moment, there are still plenty of ways to help them build the necessary connections between the screen and real life. 

Action Items- After Using Media

• Repeat the lesson. Reinforce the educational lesson by repeating back a summary after they’re done watching. Try to bring it up throughout the day at relevant moments. Engage with the content again and again if they’re interested.
• Expand the learning. Build upon the lesson by giving them new information beyond what the media provided. 

Translate the knowledge. Help your child transfer the educational lesson by relating the content to your child’s life. Does the lesson relate to something that they’ve already experienced or will experience? Connect the dots for them and explain the similarities.