What YOU can do to help your family -- and community -- become media literate?

...read storybooks that help their young children understand that TV is not a magic box for passive entertainment, it's just one of a child's many "things to do."

...read and explore this website for information to help their family better manage their "media diet," and to use TV and computers to increase, rather than decrease, communication.

...talk to their children's teachers and school administrators about the importance of media literacy, and provide materials, catalogs and information for the school's follow-up.

...talk to their local public librarians about acquiring storybooks, parent resources, videos, and teaching materials for use in community groups and in local schools.

...begin to incorporate media education into their existing curriculum, using media literacy teaching materials to teach existing subjects in new and exciting ways.

...seek out and attend conferences and other professional development opportunities to learn more about the importance of media literacy education and how to implement it.

...work with the school librarian or media specialist to begin building a core library of teaching materials that all teachers can use.

...educate themselves about effects of media on children, families, community life, and society, and learn how to discuss media issues in ways that can lead to positive action rather than finger-pointing and blame.

...organize school, church or community meetings to begin raising awareness of the power and influence of media and the need for media literacy education.

...talk to their local public librarians about acquiring storybooks, parent materials, videos, and teaching materials for use in community groups and in local schools.