Children Affected by Violence in the Media

Since the introduction of television, there has been increasing concern about the potentially negative influence programming presents to children. In today’s world, violence has become a common feature in the media and this needs to change. The many studies conducted over the last 20 years on this issue reach a somewhat consistent conclusion: children are extremely affected by violence in the media.

Psychologist L. Rowell Huesmann[1] when commenting on televised violence said “Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others also, children may be more fearful of the world around them and finally, children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward other”.

So, what do we do? It is impossible to completely shelter our children from the constant bombardment of inappropriate media. Even if you completely banned violent content in your home, they may still overhear objectionable lyrics on radios, glimpse violence on televisions in stores and overhear conversations about violent events.  The wrong approach to take is simply telling children that violence is wrong and they should not watch it. The damage done due to exposure is not necessarily on a conscious level. When choosing a media based entertainment source for your children there are many alternatives to television: books, games, video games, computer games, music, DVDs and the Internet to name a few.

Talk to your children about their concepts of violence. Once you have a good idea what your child thinks it becomes much easier to find the path to deal with this issue. Discussions with other parents to gather their input may be useful. It is also very important to find out the level of violence your children’s peers are exposed to. Violence and children’s exposure to it is a community issue. The Internet may become the answer parents are seeking but this new industry needs to be driven to provide appropriate content. There are many wonderful websites that enable children to use their minds and learn without being exposed to sexuality or violence. Seek out and review children’s sites before allowing your child to have access. Watch for links to other sites that your child may have the patience to find…. and push the industry. If you find a children’s website with inappropriate content, report it, contact the company and demand non-violent entertainment.

At Cackleberries.com we have made your child’s safety our first priority. Not only is there no violence in any of the content within the site, there is no exit to the web or any other sites. Oville, the village where the Cackleberries live, is a multi-ethnic community built on a foundation of love and acceptance.  The site is specifically designed for young children to play, explore, and enjoy games, reading and music; and to challenge themselves intellectually…. but most importantly this living cartoon is a place to have fun in a safe, wholesome environment.