Reality Check

There is the pie in the sky version of what we'd like to do to support our kids at home while schools are closed, and then there is the reality version of what we actually do to support our kids and ourselves while schools are closed.

As researchers of educational technology, we are often advocating for joint engagement with media (JEM). Families that view and play together, learn together. You get the idea. We know this is important. But knowing and doing can be two totally different things.

When you take a break from work and you need to get dinner on the table, it is hardly the time you're thinking about sitting down with your child to watch a video. In fact, you're counting on that video to entertain and occupy your child (or children) so that you can actually put said dinner on the table.

So let's be clear--we too use media to accomplish household and family tasks and, let's be honest, to take a break and recharge (which is very important!). When doing this, it's still great to choose resources that are educational, even if they don't have the same benefits without some support. You can count on them not having inappropriate content, whether that be a scary villain, language you'd rather not hear your 4-year-old use when your parents come to visit, or confusing social dynamics. Perhaps encourage children to re-watch or re-play videos or games that you have viewed or played together so you are still able to talk with them about it afterwards, for some nice dinner conversation. "What happened with [insert specific character] today?" or "How did it go working on that [insert specific challenge] today?" Having the context to still engage and hear what your child understood, where they were confused, what they enjoyed, and so on will give you the tools to promote after-the-fact learning, and build some great connections with your child who then knows you're thinking about and interested in what they're thinking about and interested in. Yay for you--you're officially a cool parent (and you didn't even have to use an xbox!)...for now. They will still become adolescents!

And sometimes media just gets you that workout you desperately need!