Resources
Grade by Grade Guide to Media Use
Pre-Kindergarten
(Adapted from Common Sense Media)
Your child’s media life
Educational shows and cartoons on broadcast and cable channels, such as PBS, Disney, and Nickelodeon Animated
Live action G and some PG-rated movies
Music that parents play and that kids hear on the radio
Early exposure to advertising on television shows and from product tie-ins to fast food, toys, etc.
Games played online (e.g., PBS Kids), on handheld devices (Leapfrog) and on consoles
Where kids are developmentally
Enjoy love songs, rhymes, and being entertained
Have trouble separating make-believe from reality
Often imitate others’ behaviors
Have mastery over their bodies and can point and click
Are learning to play and interact with other kids, thus figuring out boundaries
Are easily frightened, don’t understand sarcasm or satire, are very gullible
Main media challenges for parents
Establishing time limits
Determining what media are age appropriate
Children’s exposure to consumerism, specifically licensed characters from favorite TV shows and movies
being used to sell toys, junk food, etc.
Children’s exposure to and imitation of fantasy violence
Children’s exposure to inappropriate media at friends’ houses
Balancing media needs with older siblings
Kindergarten
Your child’s media life
Cartoons on broadcast and cable channels such as PBS, Disney, and Nickelodeon
Animated and live action G and some PG-rated movies
Matching, coloring, educational, and fantasy online games on Web sites such as Lego, PBS Kids, Barbie, and Disney
E-rated educational, sports, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Where kids are developmentally
Know the alphabet and some basic literacy skills
Will use swear words and “potty humor” to get attention
Still afraid of the dark, loud noises, and strangers
Love humor – especially slapstick
Can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality
Much play involves active make-believe and fantasy
Do not understand that the intent of commercials is to sell something
Main media challenges for parents
Establishing time limits
Deciding whether to allow computer/online use
Setting up online safety, safe search, and parental control features on computers and game consoles
Children’s exposure to consumerism, specifically characters from favorite TV shows and movies being
used to sell toys, junk food, etc.
Children’s exposure to and imitation of “bathroom” humor and language
Children’s exposure to and imitation of fantasy violence
1st and 2nd grades
Your child’s media life
Cartoons and preteen sitcoms on broadcast and cable channels such as PBS, Disney, and Nickelodeon
Animated and live action G and PG-rated movies
Matching, coloring, educational, and fantasy online games on Web sites
Creating their own avatars online
Beginning online searches
E-rated and E10+-rated educational, sports, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Where kids are developmentally
Learning to type
Improving reading ability
Very literal
Learning to make up their own minds
Vocabulary increases ahead of comprehension
Beginning of team sports and social groupings
Main media challenges for parents
Establishing appropriate limits on time and access
Setting up online safety, filtered search, safe chat, and parental control features
Establishing basic Internet safety rules and teaching safe ways to search
Children’s exposure to inappropriate content as they begin to browse and search
Children’s exposure to consumerism, specifically characters from favorite TV shows and movies being
used to sell toys, junk food, etc., as well as advergames, advertisements, and product tie-ins to online worlds
Helping kids manage hurt feelings if they are excluded from groups or games in online virtual worlds
Children’s exposure to and imitation of fantasy violence
3rd and 4th grades
Your child’s media life
Cartoons, tween sitcoms, and reality shows on broadcast and cable channels such as Disney,
Nickelodeon, ABC Family, Fox, and the CW
Live action PG and some PG-13 rated movies
Creating their own avatars online
Multi-player online games
Starts visiting video sharing sites like YouTube
Email accounts
Using the Internet for school work
E10+ and some T-rated sports, action, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Cell phones, texting
Where kids are developmentally
Body consciousness
Idolizing older kids and trying to “age up”
Can understand the difference between fantasy and reality
Can follow several story lines at once
Peer pressure begins
Main media challenges for parents
Loss of control of media selection
Setting time limits
Setting up online safety and parental control features
Balancing kids’ growing independence with safety concerns, particularly as related to sharing personal information online
Kids seeking or stumbling upon inappropriate online content and sharing with others
Some cheating, stealing, and mean chat in online games and virtual worlds
Credibility of information in news and online sources
Self-directed communication online via email and mobile phones
Children’s exposure to consumerism, specifically advergames, advertisements, and product tie-ins to online worlds
Children’s exposure to violence in games
Recognition of race and gender stereotypes
Body image issues related to skinny models/celebrities and toned athletes
Inability for kids to know when to turn off handheld gaming devices or exit multi-player online games
Deciding whether to purchase a personal cell phone
5th and 6th grades
Your child’s media life
Preteen and teen sitcoms, reality shows, and some adult dramas on broadcast and cable channels such as the CW, Fox, NBC, and MTV
Live action PG, PG-13, and some R-rated movies
Online worlds with their own avatars and social networking sites
Fan sites
Multi-player online games
Video sharing sites
Email accounts
Instant messaging
Adult music, music videos,
Using the Internet for school work
T and some M-rated sports, action, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Cell phones, texting
Where kids are developmentally
Preadolescence hits, secondary sex characteristics developing
Moody, independent, breaking away from parents
Peer relations and group dynamics very important
Kids’ social interaction segregates into “types”
Acute awareness of differences in race, sexuality, physical strength, ability, and beauty
Early sexual posing
Ability to understand abstract ideas
Main media challenges for parents
Setting time limits
Loss of control of media selection
Setting up online safety and parental control features
Balancing kids’ growing independence with safety concerns, particularly as related to sharing personal information online
Credibility of information in news and online sources
Self-directed communication online via email and mobile phones
Establishing a code of ethics online related to cyberbullying and cheating
Children’s exposure to rampant consumerism, specifically advergames, advertisements, and product tieins to online worlds
Children’s exposure to violence in games
Recognition of race and gender stereotypes
Children’s exposure to glamorized adult behavior such as sex, smoking, and drinking with few consequences
Body image issues related to skinny models/celebrities and toned athletes
Deciding whether to purchase a personal cell phone
7th and 8th grades
Your child’s media life
Reality shows and adult dramas on broadcast and cable channels such as the CW, Fox, NBC, and MTV
Live action PG-13 and R-rated movies
Online worlds with their own avatars and social networking sites such as Instagram or Snapchat
Multi-player online games aimed at older kids
Video sharing sites
Email accounts
Instant messaging
Adult music, music videos
Using the Internet for school work
Creating and uploading photos, videos, music, games
T and M-rated sports, action, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Cell phones, texting
Where kids are developmentally
Sexual experimentation begins
Intense peer relationships with outliers punished socially
Kids pulling away from family and shifting to friends
Care about looks/appearance, and acceptance; easily offended and sensitive to criticism
At risk for developing anti-social tendencies, depending on peer groups
Can reflect, analyze, and confront moral and ethical questions, but aren’t necessarily ready to deal with answers
Main media challenges for parents
Cyberbullying and sexting
Temptation to cheat on school work using technology
Communication and media consumption get private and portable
Loss of control of media selection
Balancing kids’ growing independence with safety concerns, particularly as related to sharing personal information online
Credibility of information in news and online sources
Self-directed communication online via email and mobile phones
Establishing a code of ethics online related to cyberbullying and cheating
Children’s exposure to rampant consumerism, specifically advergames, advertisements, and product tieins to online worlds
Children’s exposure to violence in games
Recognition of race and gender stereotypes
Children’s exposure to glamorized adult behavior such as sex, smoking, and drinking with few consequences
Children’s exposure to glamorized adult behavior with few consequences such as sex, smoking, and drinking
Body image issues related to skinny models/celebrities and toned athletes
High School
Your child’s media life
Reality shows and adult dramas on broadcast and cable channels such as the CW, Fox, NBC, and MTV
Live action PG-13 and R-rated movies
Online worlds with their own avatars and social networking sites such as Instagram and Snapchat
Multi-player online games such as World of Warcraft
Video sharing sites
Email accounts
Instant messaging
Using the Internet for school work
T and M-rated sports, action, and fantasy games on video consoles and handhelds
Cell phones with texting
Online pornography
Main media challenges for parents
Media is personal, private, portable
Loss of control of media selection
Balancing kids’ growing independence with safety concerns, particularly as related to sharing personal information online
Credibility of information in news and online sources
Self-directed communication online via text messaging and social media sites
Establishing a code of ethics online related to cyberbullying and cheating
Children’s exposure to violence in games,
Recognition of race and gender stereotypes
Children’s exposure to glamorized adult behavior — such as sex, smoking, and drinking — with few consequences
Body image issues related to skinny models/celebrities and toned athletes
Sexual sites
Where kids are developmentally
Sexual development leading to experimentation
Identity development and experimentation
Need for social reinforcement from peers
Independence from parents and need for privacy
Able to understand abstract concepts