Why is watching movies and television together with children better?
Tips on co-viewing to promote learning and bonding.
Parents are always worried about how much screen time is appropriate for their children. We must say that there is no magic or specific number that is right for every family. The truth is that more important than the amount of time, what the child watches and how they watch it are the more important parts of the equation. Now, when parents also get involved in this process by sitting next to their child, asking questions, and explaining when necessary, the benefits of watching movies and television increase even more.
Research shows that while the amount of time children spend watching movies is important, watching those same movies alongside parents also has many positive effects. For example, this can support early literacy skills, foster a sense of empathy in them, and even help children learn how to control their aggression after being exposed to violent media.
Of course, you do not need to sit side by side with your child and watch everything they watch, but you can do this with their favorite shows so that you can also start a conversation with your child about it.
You ask how to reap the aforementioned benefits? Try these tips with your young children to get results:
Focus their attention in a specific direction: Help your child verbalize the details of the story from specific parts of what you are watching; whether it is saying a weird new word, a confusing part, or just interesting details of the story. For example, say: “Look at his new shoes!”
Encourage them to think about the sequence of events: This helps your child think about the sequence of events and the category of cause and effect. For example, either after watching the show or before watching the rest of something you have already seen, ask your child, “Do you remember what happened after the dog got lost?” Or you can even pause the show for a moment while watching it and ask, “Tell me what is happening right now.”
Enhance your child’s comprehension: Ask them who, what, when, why, where, and how questions so that the child is forced to use new words to answer them and think more carefully about what they have seen. For example, ask, “Who is this? Where do they live? Why are they doing this?”
Connect events: Ask your child to relate what they see to their personal lives. For example, say, “Wow, they are angry. What did you do the last time you were angry?” This helps children learn to express themselves, manage their emotions, and understand others better.
Expand on what children say: Relate information about the show or things your child says to your own life or add new information to it. All of these are strategies to improve conversational skills, teach children about the world around them, and strengthen the connection between you and your child. For example, say, “Oh dear, this loud noise frightened that character. I don’t like loud noises either. What about you? How do you feel when you hear a loud noise?”
Let me tell you a very top-secret secret: “Children desperately love to talk about media. So take advantage of this benefit, because you will gain access to various opportunities to discover what your children are interested in, what matters to them, and even what is happening in their lives. Sometimes you might even be surprised by where these conversations lead you.