“How much screen time is right for my child?”
“Will my child be behind in school if we don’t have in iPad at home?”
“Where do I find guidelines to manage my family’s media use?
iSchool Ph.D. student J. Elizabeth Mills tackles those questions in an article she co-authored for ParentMap, pointing to libraries and the librarians produced by the iSchool as great resources for parents. Here is an excerpt:
“The profession of children’s librarianship has undergone a major shift in the past few years, precipitated by changes in the communities served by children’s librarians. As children become more tech savvy and app hungry, children’s librarians are stepping into the role of media mentor — someone in the community who supports families in making healthy and informed media decisions. At the University of Washington Information School, future children’s librarians are learning how to evaluate apps and digital media in addition to traditional print media. And online privacy concerns from patrons are also a part of a new curriculum focused on 21st century skills. These students are perfectly equipped to step right into the role of media mentor.”