Class 9 - Middle Childhood: Social Media

Question 1

What is the recommended screen time for middle childhood?

Answer 1

2 hours a day
- includes smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TV and computers

Question 2

What are some positives of social media?

Answer 2

• Education (Bill Nye, Little, Einsteins, etc.)

Question 3

Why can television be powerful influence in developing values and shaping behaviour? (3)

Answer 3

• violence on TV
• Violence in video games
• Decrease in prosocial behaviours

Question 4

What are the negatives of media and too much screen time? (8)

Answer 4

Developmental issues:
- Sleep problems
- Lower grades in school (academic, literacy, numeracy)
- Less socialization (family, friends)
- weight problems
- Mood problems (mental health issues)
- Self-image and body image issues
- FOMO
- Less time learning other ways to relax and have fun

Question 5

We should encourage parents to be involved when monitoring screen time and media for the child. What can these parents do? (7)

Answer 5

• set reasonable limits
• Ensure it is age appropriate
• Pay attention to what is being seen/watched or played
• Talk to the children about what is happening on TV or game
• Encourage other hobbies (sports)
• Talk about online safety and privacy
• Set a good example with your own screen habits

Question 6

What plays a role in sexuality in pre-adolescence? (6)

Answer 6

• General social division between boys and girls
• sexual learning and curiosity occurs among same sex
• May be curious about body parts: start to learn about health in Gr. 4-5
• May have questions about sex and sexuality
• Media and peers play a role in understanding
• Puberty may begin in elementary years (answer q openly and honestly)

Question 7

At ages 5-10, what should be talked about when it comes to sex? (4, 10)

Answer 7

1. Talk about body parts and normalize bodies
2. Talk about consent
   - nobody should be touching them in their genitals
   - Who is their trusted adult?
3. “My body is nobodies’ body but mine”
4. Other topics
   - Privacy
   - ask before touching
   - Healthy relationships (respect, consent and kindness)
   - families and what they look like

Question 8

At ages 11-12, what begins?

Answer 8

puberty

Question 9

at ages 11-12, what should be talked about in terms of sex? (5)

Answer 9

• Talk about body changes + normalize them
  Puberty:
• hormone changes, genital development, menstruation
• babies and sex
• Bullying and cyberbullying
• Social media (privacy settings, what to post/not to post)
• consent