Your Family and Media survey

Your Family and Media

A Survey

A number of parents in our school are concerned about the impact media violence is having on our children. We want to try to reduce its effects right here in our community and we believe there are many positive things we can do.

Please fill out this brief survey and help us determine just where our collective energy as volunteers should be spent to ensure the relationship our kids have with the media is a positive one.
(Please answer these questions with your oldest child, attending this school, in mind.)

Age of child__________ Male or Female_________

Viewing Habits

1. How many hours does your child watch TV programs and videos per week?
Less than 5hrs/ 5-10hrs/ 10-15hrs/ 15-20hrs/ More than 20hrs

2. Do you limit the amount of time your child watches TV or videos?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

3. How many hours does your child play video games per week?
Less than 5hrs/ 5-10hrs/ 10-15hrs/ 15-20hrs/ More than 20hrs

4. Do you limit the amount of time your child plays video games?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

5. Do you restrict your child from watching certain videos or TV shows? Yes/ No
Why?_____________________________________________________

6. Do you restrict your child from playing certain video games? Yes/ No
Why?_____________________________________________________

7. Approximately what percentage of your child's TV and video viewing per week is general programming, not children's programming (ie. news shows, adult sitcoms, talk shows etc.)?
________________________________________________________

8. How much does violence in children's media concern you?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

9. How much does gender stereotyping in children's media concern you?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

10. How much does racial stereotyping in children's media concern you?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

What can we do?

11. Would you be interested in articles on the subject of children and media if they were made available through the school library or newsletter?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

12. Would you borrow quality videos if a lending library were set up in the school/community centre (ie. donated educational or entertainment videos)?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

13. Would you be interested in attending a media literacy workshop for parents?
Not at all/ A little/ Some/ A great deal

14. Would you like more information on how to let your views become known to broadcasters (ie. examples of letters and addresses of appropriate contact persons)?
Yes/ No

15. Should we develop lists of quality movie videos, TV shows and video/computer games and make these lists available through the library/newsletter?
Yes/ No

16. As a contribution to this effort would you and your family be interested in viewing and reviewing movie videos, TV shows or video games/computer games?
Yes/ No

17. Would you like to see neighborhood video stores involved in our efforts (ie. set up a non-violent section for children's videos, display the rating system for videos and perhaps make our video reviews available)?
Yes/ No

18. Do you have any other suggestions on how we can tackle the media challenges we face as parents of media-age children?