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Media Diary

Method

Media Diary

Parents and children fill out a media diary for one week. It sparks reflection on how digital devices are part of family life.

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Overview

  • Target group:
    Parents, Children
  • Group size:
    Flexible
  • Duration:
    1–1.5 h
  • Materials:
    • Print out with questions, description of the idea of a media diary

Goal

Spark reflection and communication in the families about how they use media, the role it plays in their daily life, which aspects are positive or negative about it. It can be a good starting point to continue working on media education.

Steps

1

The method can be introduced at a parent teacher meeting, there you can give some background on why you chose this method.

2

Prepare spreadsheets with some questions and short description of the media diary and hand them out to the parents.

3

Talk to the kids about the diary and prepare them to answer the questions every day for a set time (one week).

4

Possible questions (targeted to kids):

  • Which media have you used today? (pictograms: book, bluetooth box, tablet, TV, smartphone others)
  • For what did you use them?
  • Did you use them alone or with your parents?
  • How did you feel before and after?
5

After the week collect the diary sheets, talk to parents and kids what they learned, if they want to change certain routines, talk about media rules at home and offer information/resources.

6

Ideally you can pick up the media diary for the next parent teacher meeting, what did parents analyse, which questions did come up, what is positive/negative about media use at home, offer resources.

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