Media Wise families
Ages & Stages for Media-Wise Families
The Imagination Stage - ages 2 to 7*
Has a very active imagination, often confusing fact and fiction. Has difficulty integrating the elements of a story and drawing a conclusion. Protect from frightening or mesmerizing images.
The Concrete Operational Stage - ages 7 to 11
Judges characters by their attractiveness and by their motives. Is more likely to imitate movie violence if it goes unpunished or is presented as necessary.
The Reflection Stage - ages 12 to 15
Abstract thought gains strength. Teach early teens to analyze plot, character, setting, and to draw out and evaluate a movie’s premise. Still unable to foresee the consequences of their actions. May imitate characters’ behavior.
The Relationship Stage - later teens
Accepts that others are different. Learns to relate to others by accepting their differences. Conceptualizes the consequences of actions and takes steps to reduce risks. Teach them to recognize the ways media try to manipulate them.
*All ages are approximate. Adapted from The Media-Wise Family by Ted Baehr (Chariot Victor, 1998).
