Thank you to the Technology "Nerds" for PVR!

Yesterday after school I hurried to Meadowridge Library to find books on Children in Adverting or psychological effects on children via media. I even looked through old magazines. I left with nothing.

Tonight I had a sudden wave of brilliance!

I remembered following this amazing documentary called Child of Our Time on BBC Knowledge last year. The documentary is hosted by the brilliant Professor Robert Winston. On days I couldn't watch, I'd record it with DSTV PVR. 

Basically the show followed the lives of 25 different children that are born in the year 2000 in Britain; from the time they are born until they reach 20 years of age.

The show focuses on the question of "Are we born or are we made?"

Over the years the show covers different topics ranging from: personality developments, different parenting strategies, effects of absence or presence of a mom or dad on children, effects of technology, how children communicate etc.

Unfortunately I deleted all the series last year as my PVR memory was becoming full.

Then, as I was browsing the list of things I'd recorded and hadn't had time to watch; I came across an episode of Child of Our Time. This one was different to previous ones, as it was an episode with Child experts along with Professor Winston, discussing their findings on the show. Their main topic was "Is Childhood Under Threat?"

You cannot imagine the relief and victory I felt when I came across this recording! Phew!

I haven't gone through the whole recording yet as my mother ordered me to bed half way into the show. [Insert sad face]

Though what I did watch was extremely helpful. They discussed how the meaning of "play" has evolved as well as the advantages and many disadvantages of this evolution. for example children don't play outside as much as they used to a few years ago due to the advancement of technology. They also said that things like computers are an advantage for disabled children who can't participate in many outdoor activities and are housebound.

I'm looking forward to a date with my couch, television and notebook tomorrow. [Insert happy face]

Nanzi Bika

#3

Tonight, I'am going to research psychological aspect of children to relate how easily children can be influeced by common advertisements in media. Also, I am going to look for some advertisements of children to put on our powerpoint presentation.

Yeji

Bratz dolls!

Today, I did my research on Bratz dolls and how people think about the way they are being portrayed in the commercials.


Someone asked if Bratz dolls are bad influence on little children.
I have been quite shocked by some comments people have made.


For example, someone said:
"Nope; they're just dolls; the same goes for videogames, movies, cartoons, and any other form of media. The problem lays with the parents, not the toys. "


"IF I SAW A GIRL WEARING STUFF LIKE BRATZ I DONT BLAME DOLLS I BLAME THE PARERENTS WHO DIDINT RAIZE THE CHILD WELL!"


So many people were actually blaming PARENTS for the bad influence.


However, there were also some people who thought that Bratz dolls can be a bad influence on little children as children want to dress up and put on make-up like Bratz dolls.





LOOK at this picture of bratz dolls.They are all wearing heels and make-up. Some of them are wearing mini-skirts. This is very inappropriate for the age range of children who play with Bratz dolls.


I really do believe that these dolls can affect children a lot. Children are still young and they cannot judge what is right or wrong. According to the American Psychological Association, children only gain the ability to differenciate commercials and regular programming at eight. It is clear that children at this age are lacking the ability to recognize and critically analyze the advertisements. Children under the age of 8 unconsciously might think that the Bratz dolls look is the target they are meant to aspire to.
YEJI.