Media literacy prevents children from being exposed to fake news or misinformation and empowers them to use the media wisely. It develops the ability to analyze information, inform decisions, be responsible, and even actively participate in communities. However, parents tend to ignore the importance of media literacy.

This article explores how developing media literacy can enhance children’s community engagement, critical thinking, and civic awareness. It provides examples and tips for your parents to help them navigate media literacy for their children. Through this, your children can be more engaged and helpful to the community, more aware and critical of societal issues, and ready to be involved in society. 

Parents, take a moment to explore this article. It offers valuable insights into media literacy and the community for children’s engagement!

Understanding media literacy and its importance

Before learning all the tips, you must understand the concept of media literacy.

Scientifically, media literacy or digital media literacy refers to the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from various sources. It’s also defined as the ability to access, analyze, and evaluate media in multiple forms.

It’s related to technological literacy through the content formats and communication channels and to informational literacy through the ideas and concepts of the content. 

In more general terms, media literacy is the ability to comprehend information from the media with critical thinking. It empowers individuals to choose good content to read, watch, and/or listen to. It also helps people become smarter and more aware of any information presented. 

Media literacy aims to increase children’s awareness of any form of media. Children are already exposed to various media, and they must analyze and filter information before digesting it. 

Media literacy also imparts new communication skills to children. Through media literacy, children can express themselves appropriately. They can ‘read the room’ of the media, assess whether it is safe for them, and communicate with awareness. 

Read more: Digital Parenting: Navigating the Impact of Technology on Children’s Self-Esteem

Therefore, media literacy is more than just a skill for consumption. It’s about how to connect and engage with others through the media. 

Why media literacy matters for community engagement

Media literacy is known to be associated with children’s community engagement. But what is community engagement? And how do they correlate with each other?

Community engagement (also known as civic engagement) is defined as the willingness of individuals to participate in addressing community issues and actions for the public good. It consists of several characteristics, including:

• Civic knowledge. The knowledge of public action processes and concepts.
• Civic skills. The ability to gain information, think critically, evaluate various perspectives, and discuss ideas.
• Civic attitudes. The emotional connection to society or community with a common good as the objective. 
• Civic behaviors. The involvement of individuals in civic activities. 

Media literacy plays a role in each characteristic. The cognitive dimension of media literacy is associated with civic skills, such as critical thinking in content searching, evaluation, and creation processes. This dimension requires children to be aware of community issues presented in the media. 

Read more: Protect Your Digital Well-Being Through Digital Media Literacy 

Media-literate children can use this skill to gain more understanding and participation in their community. Research found that children’s active participation in media makes them more likely to engage in their environment.

Therefore, the association between media literacy and active participation can enhance children’s community engagement. 

Media literacy includes information usage and communication as components of civic knowledge and behaviors. Information usage is the most significant predictor of social issues and civic involvement. For children, it’s pretty clear that credible information equals more knowledge and likelier community participation.

Communication, on the other hand, is a part of civic behavior. As students gain communication skills, they can also communicate actively with their community and involve themselves in community activities. 

These facts show the importance of media literacy in contributing to children’s community engagement. 

Practices for parents to foster media literacy

So, what can you do to help children navigate media literacy and develop their community engagement? Here are some tips:

Teach critical evaluation of media

To enhance their critical thinking skills, children must know how to evaluate the media critically. Discuss these topics with your children:

• Information bias. Some information presented in the media is biased depending on factors like author, source, and purpose. Children must be able to detect any biases or intentions that might influence their perceptions.
• Misinformation or fake news. Information is also often presented to create sensations regardless of the truth. Therefore, children need the ability to analyze information, including fact-checking from reliable sources. 

Encourage open conversations about current events

As a parent, you must also provide your children with an open space to discuss any events or information presented.

It is beneficial for teaching them how to use media and can also connect them to the real world. They need to know that the events or information they see in the media actually occur in real life. Here are some topics to discuss with your children:

• Local events. Start with what’s happening around your neighborhood.
• Community in action. Introduce activities related to the community, such as volunteering, and their importance.
• Nation and worldwide issues. For older children, learning more about significant issues on a national or international level is valuable. 

Provide access to diverse media content

You don’t always have to focus on significant issues to enhance children’s media literacy. 

Interesting topics that align with their interests also work. For example, you can teach them how to analyze pop culture properly. How they interpret news regarding their hobby and interact with others with similar interests can indicate their social engagement. 

Later on, you can introduce social and civic issues to the table since they have already developed an engagement in social activity. It is also beneficial to broaden their understanding and awareness of any issues related to society and the community. 

Encourage participation in community projects

As your children become more aware of the issues and actions around them, you can support them in participating actively in community activity. Here are some community engagement examples that children can do:

• Volunteering. They can begin by volunteering for projects such as local charities or environmental campaigns. The goal of these activities is to engage them in meaningful actions for the community. 
• Community involvement in schools. Involvement in school groups or clubs can expose your children to more people, especially around their age, allowing them to connect and grow together. 
• Creating their own media. If your children are already aware of and understand any issues around them, they can start their own media platforms to promote positive actions for the community.

Model media literacy and civic engagement

The most important factor in teaching children is being a good role model. Teaching them about media literacy and exposing them to the community is not enough to foster these abilities; you have to embody the same behaviors. 

Children have higher levels of community engagement when they have civically engaged parents. It is important for you to do as you teach them. This helps them understand the importance of doing and engaging with things.

In conclusion

Developing media literacy in your children is essential in this era. Media literacy can equip them with important skills, such as being critical when evaluating information and understanding various perspectives on various issues. Moreover, media literacy can enhance children’s community engagement. 

As a parent, your role is to foster these skills in your children. You have the power to cultivate these skills by teaching, encouraging, exposing, and even being their role model. By doing so, you can raise responsible and engaged members of society who are ready to positively impact their communities. 

So parents, start developing media literacy in your children today, and raise your children’s community engagement.

If you would like to see more resources on civic engagement, check out the Parenting Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

Photo by Freepik

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Aside from making sure that the child’s personal needs are met, parents should also acknowledge that it is important for the child to be able to practice fulfilling other people’s needs.

However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to be able to go to protests and rallies or engage in humanistic volunteering at various NGOs at the ripe age of two years old. The first step to raising a civically engaged human being is by encouraging them to act upon prosocial behaviors. 

What is prosocial behavior?

As the term is self-explanatory, prosocial behavior is the complete opposite of antisocial behavior — the social norm-defying behavior that violates the rights of others. 

Instead, prosocial behavior consists of behavior that is performed voluntarily and is driven by the intention of benefiting others. Dunnfield (2014) argues that prosocial behavior could be manifested into three subtypes: help, share, and comfort.

Help

Help is a subtype of prosocial behavior that is driven by the need to alleviate other people’s struggles in completing goal-directed behavior. It is one form of prosocial behavior that manifests earliest, as it begins when children turn one year old, and rapidly develops in the first half of their second year. It could look like this:

• Reaching objects that are out of a friend’s reach
• Tying a sibling’s shoelaces
• Picking an item that you accidentally dropped

Share

Another form of prosocial behavior is sharing. When children willingly share, they are aware of the unequal access to resources between them and are driven to solve it through equal resource distribution. This prosocial behavior that usually emerges between the ages 18 to 24 months could manifest as:

• Taking turns in playing with their favorite toy with siblings
• Splitting their snacks with their friends

Comfort

Comforting is a subtype that is driven to ease others’ emotional distress. Children develop emotional understanding in their first year of life. However, comforting requires the skills to represent, track, and respond to emotional expressions appropriately, which emerges between the age of two to four years old. Here are a few comforting behavior examples:

• Hugging friends who are crying
• Encouraging a frustrated sibling to keep going on

Ways to promote prosocial behavior in children

Various studies have shown that prosocial behaviors generate many positive outcomes. It has been associated with children’s well-being, healthy peer relationships, and self-esteem. To raise children that are able and willing to help, share, and comfort, here are some ideas you could do:

Using books and digital media

Reading, listening to, and watching various media is a great way for parents to cultivate their children’s prosocial skills. However, Mares and colleagues’ studies on prosocial media effects pointed out that children had a hard time understanding the moral lessons the media intended to deliver. Thus, you should take part in this process. 

Instead of merely accompanying their media consumption, you could also start conversations with them regarding insights and moral lessons from the movies, TV shows, and books they consumed. Here are a few questions that could be the entry-point for the discussions:

• Could you tell me what was the story we just watched/read/listened to?
• What did the characters do?
• What do you think about the characters? 
• How do you feel about the things that they did?
• What do you learn from them?

Role-play

Another way to develop prosociality is through role-play. A recent experiment has shown that pretend play is the “training ground” for them to develop their social skills and interactions. Another perk of it is that it is a fun activity to engage in.

Playdates

Indeed, it is nice to have a friend. Moreover, having friends over also allows individuals to be nice people as well. Lacey and colleagues in their article pointed out how scheduled social interaction and play environments at home are beneficial for children’s social and emotional skills development, including ways to be a good and caring friend.

For some children, interacting with peers comes naturally. However, others also have a hard time adjusting to new people and environments. Here are a few ways you could support children in playdates: 

• Establish a stimulating playing environment by providing various toys and materials
• Assist them in the activities to help them engage in more conversations and interactions between them
• Guide them on ways to play respectfully, such as ways to turn-taking and helping others
• Praise them when they engage in positive behaviors, such as “I am so proud of you for being willing to share” or “That is such great teamwork! Well done!”

Adopt a pet

Aside from interacting with peers, prosocial behaviors could also be developed through attachment to pets.

Read more: Ways To Build Healthy Attachment With Pets

An Australian longitudinal study illustrated that pet ownership is associated with better prosocial behavior as well as preventing socio-emotional problems. Thus, adopting a pet (or more) would be a great practice. 

Be the role model

Teaching children about the importance of prosocial behavior and how it is done is not enough. So to raise a prosocial child, parents must walk the talk. In the process, children observe the expected behaviors in interactions and may be motivated to imitate the behaviors.

This is shown by Schuhmacher et al. (2018) in their series of experiments on 16-month-old children. They concluded that parental modeling takes a huge part in shaping the children’s helping behaviors. Thus, parents need to set an example for their children. 

In conclusion

The thought that our tiny babies are going to be the future of this world may seem overwhelming at first. However, it is never too early to guide children to care about others’ welfare. You don’t have to expect them to eradicate poverty and injustice immediately. As prosocial behaviors exist in many shapes and forms, you should focus on things that are more attainable to get done. So, here’s to baby steps toward a better future!

If you would like to know more about developing prosocial behavior in children, check out the Parenting Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

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The post Fostering Prosocial Behavior in Children appeared first on Insights.

Meet Diann Cameron Kelly

Diann Cameron Kelly is an Associate Provost for Student Success at Adelphi University.

Dr. Kelly authored articles on civic engagement and service learning. She is also the editor and author of the book “Treating Young Veterans.”

Dr. Kelly is a former Fahs Beck Fellow and a member of several community organizations.

About the episode

In this episode hosted by Dina Sargeant, Dr. Kelly discussed civic engagement, its importance, and its transformational impact on communities. She explained the benefits of volunteering and its positive effects on self-esteem in youth and adults.

Dr. Kelly emphasized how crucial it is for parents to shape their child’s perception of community and civic involvement, including engaging in activities catering to people with disabilities.

Dr. Kelly also advised addressing food insecurity and hunger in the United States through community efforts.

In conclusion

When kids volunteer, it can boost their self-confidence and even carry over into their adult years. And as parents, we can help shape our kids’ understanding of what it means to be a part of a community. It’s important to ensure everyone feels included, especially kids with disabilities or special needs. Together, we can fight food insecurity and create a more caring society. Let’s take action and be engaged in our communities.

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The post Diann Cameron Kelly, PhD, LMSW: Civic Engagement for Children | Raising Parents #15 appeared first on Insights.

As a parent, you could also take part in changing the world by encouraging your children to be more civically engaged. However, encouraging children to change the world doesn’t mean that you have to push them into dangerous situations. One of the many things that your teens can do is volunteer.

Organizations to look into based on the teen’s interests

There are many options for volunteering activities that your teens can participate in. Due to the variety, you need to help your children from getting too overwhelmed with the options. You should talk with your teens regarding the things they are passionate and concerned about. 

Referring to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the blueprint established by the United Nations for ending global poverty, here are a few examples of volunteering activities based on the issues your teen is passionate about.

Environmental issues

Climate change and environmental conservation have been major concerns for people across the globe, especially for the youth. 

A survey conducted by Pew Research Center indicates that Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to experience negative emotions toward environmental issues rather than the previous generations. These younger generations feel anxious and angry as they perceive these issues haven’t been addressed optimally.

If your teens are compelled to take part in environmental issues, here are a few organizations that may facilitate them to take action through volunteer work. 

Scouts

As one of the largest youth movements, Scouts worldwide has been actively involved in 173 countries. Started as a program for boys aged 11-18, Scouts now consists of members for every youth and child. Scouts took part in various global issues through their numerous projects, including actions to tackle environmental concerns through tree planting, beach cleanups, and plastic bag recycling. 

Plant-for-the-Planet

To address the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, Plant-for-the-Planet aims to restore forest ecosystems by planting one trillion trees. If you’re looking for environmental-related community services for 9 to 12 year old children, being a Climate Justice Ambassador may be a great choice. This role allows them to hold tree planting events and clubs, as well as be an advocate on the issues.

Heirs To Our Oceans

To tackle today’s global climate crisis, Heirs To Our Oceans (H2OO) strives on cultivating changes through real-world and action-based education. This youth learning program initiates various actions toward the ocean pollution crisis, but Operation Global Sweep is the initiative that distinguishes them from other environmental organizations. By being a part of this initiative, instead of merely sweeping up the plastic waste on the ocean, your teens will also conduct a brand audit that aims to collect data regarding the corporations that contribute the most to this crisis. 

Education

According to the Global Youth Index 2022, access to quality education is one of the most important global issues to tackle. Due to COVID-19, the state of the global education system has worsened. 

According to Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, inequality may lead to the loss of $17 trillion of lifetime earnings. 

As the changemaker for this issue, here are some volunteer works your teens may opt to choose.

Key Club

Key Club is not an organization that exclusively focuses on education issues, but the organization allows high school-aged teens to initiate actions around their communities. The Key Club chapters around the world have engaged in books donation, reading programs, and school supplies donations. If your teen is looking forward to being an active citizen and honing their leadership skills at the same time, this organization may be a great option for them. 

Teens Tutor Teens

If your 13 to 19 year old child has the advantage of academic area of expertise, Teens Tutor Teens (T3) may be a fitting choice. T3 is a nonprofit organization that aims to assist high school students to thrive in pursuing their academic success. In doing so, they allow teen volunteers with exceptional academic achievement to tutor other students who need help. 

Mental Health

Another area that experienced disruptions due to COVID-19 is people’s health and wellbeing. Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 stated that the diminished circumstances are also shown in mental health. Here are a few organizations that your child may consider choosing in their volunteering journey.

LOG OFF

LOG OFF is a youth movement that has a tremendous concern about social media’s impact on youth wellbeing. Their promotion of healthy usage of social media thrives through various platforms, and your high school-age teen can take part in it. They can choose to do volunteer work by writing educational content, developing program curricula, or even pioneering the LOG OFF chapter in their community. 

Best Buddies

Best Buddies is an organization that dedicates itself to inclusivity toward individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies conducts various programs that facilitate individuals to be independent and feel valued as members of society. Your middle school and high school-aged teens may be a part of this mission by volunteering to be pen pals or buddies for individuals with IDD.

In conclusion

Since adolescence is a period of identity exploration, volunteering is a great way to help the process. Be it in the scope of well-being, literacy, or climate change issues, volunteering may help kids and teenagers understand what their callings are and ways to act on them in this society. As a parent, your job is to support them through this journey. 

Recommending volunteer organizations and activities for them to partake in could be one way to help them. As the mentioned organizations above are just a few of the many, you could also dedicate some time with your teens to do more thorough research on other volunteering opportunities.

If you would like to know more about civic engagement for children and teenagers, check out the Parenting Science Labs. Using the research of the Institute for Life Management Science, the lab produces courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other learning tools and resources. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels

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