Family Messages
what can families do at home to help their children do well in school?
Media Literacy (12 messages)
Message 1:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Turn off the television and phone when reading with your child. Get comfortable, cozy and close. Enjoy your time together. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 2:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
After you have watched a television program about something such as animals, see if you can find a book about animals. After you read the book, cut out pictures of animals from magazines or take a walk and count how many of your neighbors have pets. Doing activities after reading books or watching a television program gives you and your child more time together and helps your child to become a strong reader. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 3:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Parenting is hard enough. Don’t let TV, videos, video games and computers make it harder. Help your child choose good TV programs, DVDs, and videos to watch. Make sure they are non-violent and not showing things you don’t want them to know about at their age. IPTV shows more than six hours a day of programs especially for children. These programs have no violence or sexual content. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 4:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
If your child is watching TV or a video, watch it with him/her. When it is over, talk with him/her about what happened during the program. If a word was used that your child might not know, explain it to him/her. Iowa Public Television shows more than six hours a day of programs especially for children. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 5:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Help your child do things other than watch TV or play video or computer games. Children need to spend time reading, playing, exercising, and talking with you. Doctors say that children under two years old shouldn’t watch any TV. They say that children older than two should spend no more than two hours a day in front of TV and computer “screens.” Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 6:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
You are in charge of the TV! Choose good programs for your child to watch. Good programs are those that are written so your child can understand them, aren’t violent, teach values you want your child to learn and make your child feel OK—not sad or scared. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 7:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
There are good and bad things about TV, videos and computers. The good thing is that children can learn new words, and facts about people and places far, far away. Sometimes they see good ways to solve problems. They can also learn that the only way to solve problems is to fight or kill, that it is fun and funny to be mean to others and not to listen to grown-ups. You are in charge of the TV, videos and computer in your home. Help your children make good choices about what to watch. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 8:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
American children between the ages of 2 and 5 spend more time watching TV than any other age group! Heavy TV viewing can also mean watching lots of violence. Children’s television programs have higher levels of violence than any other kind of programming. Young children also watch violent programs intended for adults. Iowa Public Television’s children’s programs are non-violent. If you are gone during the day, tape some of them and have your children watch them instead of programs that are violent. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 9:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Young children learn by imitating what they see so television and videos can be powerful teachers. They can teach your child about violence and aggressive behavior. For example, because most 3 to 6 year olds want to feel that they are strong and in control of their world, they often identify with TV characters who are powerful and effective. But what they see are superheroes and other characters who solve problems with violence and then are rewarded for doing so. When young children watch TV or videos that present violence as exciting, funny, and what you always do, it can be easy for them to accept the “TV way” as real and desirable. Please select non-violent programs or videos for your child to watch. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 10:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Your child needs a mix of physical activity, lots of “hands-on” experience with the word, a chance to be with other children and caring adults, quiet time and lots of time to play! Imaginative play is the most important way 3 to 6 year olds learn, grow, and work out their feelings, fears and fantasies. The more your child watches TV and videos, the less he/she develops an ability to entertain himself/herself, and the less time he/she spends on all the other important experiences he/she needs to grow and learn. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 11:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
Watching television shows or videos with children provides a perfect opportunity to talk about respect. Discuss characters that do and do not treat others kindly. When a character is unkind, you might say, “I wonder what the girl could have done differently?” or “How do you think that boy felt when his friend did that?” Iowa Public Television children’s programs show characters treating each other with respect and working out problems without fighting or other kinds of violence. Encourage your children to watch them. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
Message 12:
Dear Families,
This is what you can do at home to help your child do well in school!
All television programs send messages to children. Reality-based shows like Survivor focus on competition, winning and excluding people. Other programs can send messages about sharing, helping and friendship. For example, shows on Iowa Public Television such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bob the Builder, and Barney & Friends offer healthy and positive messages about respect for others. Thanks!
Multiple copies (6 per page) of this message can be downloaded and printed on plain paper, card stock or using Avery 5164 or 8164 labels. Click below to print:
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