The media and preschool children

Živimo u svijetu u kojem su djeca od samog rođenja izložena masovnim medijima. Oni imaju veliki utjecaj kako na odrasle, tako i na djecu. Svakim danom razvijaju se i šire ubrzanim tempom i zbog toga je važno na vrijeme prepoznati negativne utjecaje, a posebice za one najmlađe. Međutim, osim negativnih, mediji pružaju i pozitivne utjecaje koje treba naučiti iskoristiti na najbolji mogući način. Televizija je zasigurno najomiljeniji i najtraženiji medij u djece predškolske dobi. Često se roditeljima predbacuje kako njihovo dijete prečesto sjedi ispred ekrana, no tome se i dalje nažalost, ne pridodaje velika pažnja. Obzirom na količinu korištenja medija u djetinjstvu, važno je da roditelji postupaju svjesno i odgovorno u skladu s istim. Osim roditelja, važnu ulogu u medijskom odgoju imaju i odgojitelji u dječjim vrtićima. Odgojitelji su značajni faktor dječjeg usmjeravanja ka pravilnom korištenju medija. Ukoliko uzmemo u obzir da mnoga djeca veći dio dana provode upravo u vrtiću, utoliko bi vrtić trebao biti ustanova gdje djeca mogu učiti iz što boljeg primjera. Kako u svemu, tako je i u ovom području bitna suradnja roditelja i odgojitelja.We live in a world where children are exposed to the mass media from the day they were born. They have a great impact both on adults and children. Every day they develop and spread in a rapid rate and that is why it is important to recognize the negative impact on time, especially for the youngest. However, in addition to the negative ones, the media also provides positive influences that need to be learned to use in the best possible way. Television is by far the most likeable and most popular kind of media within preschool children. Parents are often accused of putting their child in front of the television too often, but unfortunately that is not receiving much attention. Considering the amount of media use in childhood, it is important that parents act consciously and responsibly in accordance. Beside parents, kindergarten teachers also play an important role in media education. Kindergarten teachers are a significant factor in children’s orientation towards the proper use of media. If we consider that many children spend most of the day at the kindergarten, then the kindergarten should be an institution where the children can learn from the best possible example. As in everything, the cooperation of parents and teachers is important in this area as well