Ages & Grades

Pre-KPre-K | Kindergarten | 1st - 2nd | 3rd - 4th | 5th - 6th | 7th - 8th | High School

Highlights

They have trouble separating make believe from fantasy
Imitation of behavior is very common
Children's exposure to and imitation of fantasy violence is a concern for many parents

Watch

Educational shows and cartoons on broadcast and cable channels such as PBS, Disney, and Nickelodeon
Animated and live action G and some PG-rated movies
Music that parents play and that they hear on the radio
Early exposure to advertising on television shows and from product tie-ins to fast food, etc.
Early games played online (PBSKids), on handheld devices (Leapfrog) and on consoles

Love songs, rhymes, and being entertained
Have trouble separating make believe from reality
Imitation of behaviors very common
Have mastery over their bodies and are able to point and click
Learning to play and interact with other kids, thus figuring out boundaries
Easily frightened, don’t understand sarcasm or satire, very gullible

Establishing time limits
Determining what media is age appropriate
Children’s exposure to consumerism, in particular licensed characters from favorite TV shows and movies being used to sell toys, junk food, etc.
Children’s exposure to and imitation of fantasy violence

The information included in this guide is a reference point for what most children are exposed to at each grade level. All children and families are different, therefore this may not be accurate for all children.