Children and television: a global perspective

Preface

Introduction

Why global (is it)?

Why TV (still)?

Why kids (only)?

The TV (book) guide

1. The home of television viewing

Television comes home

The role of television in the fabric of family life

The social uses of television

Television viewing and communication patterns in the family

Parenting styles and mediation

Television-related conversations

Conversation types

Television as a talking book

Conversations and fear

Conversations with siblings and peers

Concluding remarks

Notes

2. Television and individual development

Developmental theories

Attention to and comprehension of television content

The development of attention to television

Relationships between attention to television and comprehension

The development of viewing preferences

Development of fantasy-reality distinction

The development of genre distinction

The importance of distinguishing between televised fantasy and reality

The development of understanding of television narrative

The development of understanding of television characters

The development of moral judgment

Identification with television characters

Children's fear reactions to television content

Television, imagination, and creativity

A conceptual and methodological reflection

Notes.

3. Television and the behavior of children

Television and violent behavior

Learning violent behaviors

Cumulative effect of television violence

Intervening variables

Television and pro-social behavior

Television and advertising

Advertising for children

Advertising, nutrition, and alcohol

Advertising, social and emotional well-being

Is advertising working?

Television and sexual behaviors

Pornography and teenage sexuality

Television and children's leisure

Concluding remarks

Notes

4. Television and the social construction or reality

Construction of gender and gender roles

Construction of gender roles

Construction of gender identity

Gay identities

Sex and sexuality

Body image and eating disorders

The social construction of reality

The "mean world" hypothesis

Perceptions of the social "us" in comparison to "others"

Perceptions of a rich, violent United States

Cultural integration of immigrant children

The construction of political reality

The construction of conflicts

Peace-building interventions

"Edutainment" genres and construction of social reality

Concluding remarks

Notes.

5. Television and learning

Television and school two educational systems

Viewing television and performance in school

Television and language acquisition

Acquisition of native language

Acquisition of second language

The audio-visual language and cognitive skills

The development of special viewing skills

Learning from educational television

The development of educational television

Theoretical models for evaluating learning from educational television

Children's Television Workshop (CTW) (Sesame Workshop, SW)

The Teletubbies

Concluding remarks

Notes

6. Implications for education and policy

Media literacy

The central debates in media literacy

Media literacy around the world

Practical aspects of media literacy

The curriculum

Teaching

Assessment

Evaluating media literacy curricula

Policy of broadcasting for children

Central content-related policy issues

Policy regarding television violence

Policy regarding television advertising

Policy regarding sponsorship of children's programs

Convention on television broadcasting for children and youth

Notes

7. Conclusion : growing up in a global screen culture

Globalized screen culture

The changing of childhood

A research agenda

Notes

Recommended sources for additional readings

References

Index.