Helping Our Kids and Teens Stay a Step Ahead

Today's kids grow up in a world where they are surrounded by advertising at every turn. From commercials to video games to cartoons, characters are quick to impart mixed messages. While such exposure is normal, it's important that children have the tools to evaluate and understand these media messages. In this episode, Julia Storm shares how parents can support children's critical thinking skills and help them develop their own sense of media literacy.

When it comes to media, kids are bombarded by many messages. Keeping up with all of the advertising tricks can be challenging even for adults, so it's no surprise that today's kids often struggle with understanding these messages. Today we're joined with Julia Storm to discuss what parents can do to help their children develop a sense of media literacy.

“I think media literacy is sort of a big umbrella term. But one piece that's really important is understanding how all of the apps and games that we use are businesses, and ultimately, they're not created just for our pleasure. There are people behind them who are hoping to really strike it rich.”

In a world where we're more connected to media than ever, it's important to be mindful of what messages our children are exposed to from games, TV and movies and how they translate that knowledge in the real world. As parents, we have a responsibility to make sure our kids are ready for a world filled with advertising. More importantly, we need to be certain that they're seeing things as they really are and not through their young eyes. In this episode, Julia Storm shares how you, as a parent, can guide your child and help them develop the media literacy skills they need in life.

• How Julia handles tech use in their family.
• Teaching media literacy through the games your children play.
• How to help your kids think critically.
• Julia explains how Fortnite skins are now being used as status signalers.
• Examples of teaching media literacy in everyday things.
• Things in everyday life that are in the same vein of manipulation and marketing.
• Helping kids form connections and interpretations of the messages we receive through media, ads, and anything on the internet.
• Giving advice to children that are backed up with research data.

Links

• ReConnect with Julia Storm
• Julia Storm LinkedIn
• Petra's Power to See by Educate, Empower Kids
• Pinwheel
  • Use code PODCAST20