Remarkable Explorations

Media influence

According to the article, “How the Media Influences Children”, the media influences children at early ages. Books, television, and the internet influence how our children think and act. For instance, the media portrays blondes to be stupid, which will influence children to believe that all blondes are dumb, but as adults we understand that just because someone has blonde hair doesn’t mean that she has a low IQ. Some people even believe that blondes have more fun because of views that are portrayed through the media. Commercials also influence children sense of imagination. Most commercials only reveal the aspect of their product that will captures the children’s attention. On Barbie commercials, Barbie dolls are talking, but what children don’t understand is that the Barbie will not talk. They also show extra props that will have to be purchased separately which is very misleading for a young child. My grandson is four years old and he has a favorite movie that teaches him new humorous comments. The movie has definitely influenced his personality. He is very humorous when he speaks.

Cognitive development: age 2-6

“Cognitive development is the process by which our intellectual abilities form and evolve over time.” According to Piaget’s cognitive development theory, children are active participants in the learning process. Piaget refers to cognitive development between the ages of about 2 and 6 as preoperational intelligence. It is during this stage that language and imagination involve symbolic thought.  Children focuses on one idea, and they tend to think from their own perspective.

The pre-operational period is when children start babbling in first year of life and start producing simple two word sentences by age 2. It is also the stage where animated animals or characters are given life. When my grandson was three, his favorite character was spider-man. He would say that his spider man was reading to him and playing with him. He brought his spider-man to life through his imagination.

Biosocial development: age 2-6

Biosocial development is when the body changes. It is during this stage where children get taller and gain more weight. It is during this stage where genes, nutrition, income, and ethnicity influence growth. The brain is also developing rapidly by the age of 2 the brain is at 75% and 90% by age 5. It is during this stage that the brain changes and enables more memory, better planning, and quicker responses. Motor skills are also improved. Children began to play more during this stage. For example, my four year old grandson is four, and he plays all day long. Even when it seems as though he should be tired, he is full of energy and playful.

Psychosocial development: age 2-6

Psychosocial domains reference emotions, personality, social interactions, and expectations.  During this stage, children’s personality begins to form.

Stressors

There are several stressors that can affect the development of children. Things such as nutrition, poverty, and warfare. Nutrition can affect the way a child’s body develops. If a child does not receive proper nutrition, he or she may develop below normal if poverty is the case, the child’s growth will be delayed as well.

Berger (2009) the developing person through childhood, 5^th edition worth publication.

Teresa (n.d.) how the media influences children.