MEDIA PROTECT – a programme targeting parents to prevent children's problematic use of screen media
| Date | 09 September 2014 |
| Pages | 207-219 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-10-2013-0036 |
| Published date | 09 September 2014 |
| Author | Paula Bleckmann,Florian Rehbein,Michael Seidel,Thomas Mößle |
MEDIA PROTECT – a programme
targeting parents to prevent children’s
problematic use of screen media
Paula Bleckmann, Florian Rehbein, Michael Seidel and Thomas Mo
¨ßle
Paula Bleckmann is
a Prevention Researcher,
Florian Rehbein is
a Psychologist and Thomas
Mo
¨ßle is a Psychologist, all are
based at Criminological
Research Institute of Lower
Saxony, Hanover, Germany.
Michael Seidel is a Teacher,
based at Alanus University of
Arts and Sciences, Alfter,
Germany.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe theoretical background, concepts and materials for
MEDIA PROTECT, a new elementary-school parent counsellingprogramme to reduce problematic and, in
the long term, addictive use of screen media via slowing the increase in screen equipment in children’s
bedrooms and promoting screen-free leisure activities. The aim of the pilot phase of MEDIA PROTECTwas
the implementation at a project school with a process evaluation by parents as well as teachers as a basis
for improvements prior to a subsequent randomised controlled trial phase.
Design/methodology/approach – At t1 and t2, questionnaires were handed out to all 220 families to
record media use routines and media-related parenting styles. Advice on media education, information on
media effects, plus hands-on technical support for installing protection software were offered to meet the
support needs of different parental target groups recorded at t1 (pre-intervention). At t2, parents and
teachers assessed MEDIA PROTECT regarding organisation, facilitators, content and duration/length.
Findings – In the pilot phase, 60 per cent of families attended the 45-minute face-to-faceinput, for which
high overall satisfaction (53 per cent ‘very high’, 45 per cent ‘high’) was reported. The written material was
also rated ‘good’ (59 per cent) or ‘very good’ (33 per cent). Parents reported moderate positive changes in
media-related parenting style. Teachers voted for the inclusion of a mandatory half-day teacher training
session in the programme.
Originality/value – The primary preventio n of problematic media use is a negl ected issue. This is despite
the fact that ever younger ag e groups spend increasing portions of their time wi th screen media, which
impairs physical, soci o-emotional and cogniti ve development of child ren, especially those w ho are
already vulnerable a nd disadvantaged.
Keywords Prevention,Intervention, Parents, Elementaryschool, Addiction, Problematic use, Screen media
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
It is one of the major challenges for parents today to follow a path of age-adequate media use in
the family. This path ideally runs from protecting small children from screen media exposure in
general (Council on Communications and Media (AAP), 2011) to limiting time, content and
bedroom media ownership as well as ensuring responsible use of all this by older children
(Council on Communications and Media (AAP), 2013). The ideal is a step-by-step process in
which young people take increasing responsibility for its limited, skilled and critically informed
use. In the majority of families around the world, reality is far from this ideal. In this paper,we will
describe the process of developing and revising a programme to support parents facing this
challenge. The considerations and research findings, on which specific strategies and
components of the programme are based, will be described in the section below on
“Intervention: duration, structure and description of components”, but before doing this it is
necessary to review the state of research on which this development is based.
DOI 10.1108/JCS-10-2013-0036 VOL. 9 NO. 3 2014, pp. 207-219, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660
j
JOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
j
PAGE 207
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting