Does your kids watch the news on TV? Do you think it is important for them to do so?
I used to think that it is not and that children should be given time to play and watch cartoons. At least that was how I grew up, having spent most of my childhood more with grandparents than parents who are busy making a living. Hubby though have a completely different set of perspective, one of the few differences we have in child-rearing! Thank goodness for that otherwise it will be WWIII on a daily affair!
From my firstborn was about 6 years old onwards, he insisted that she accompanies him during the news at night. Now, the way my hubby watches news is like watching his favourite movie - he repeats them. How? Simple! After watching the 9.30pm news on Channel 5, he will switch over to Channel 8 at 10pm for the Chinese version. And God help you if he misses any part of that cos he will then turn on the news again at 11pm on Channel U. I have learnt through so many years that his news time is not something to be trifle with. No matter what show you are watching now, when its time for his news, u better let him watch or be "entertain" by a bear with a sore head, bad toothache and itchy skin all rolled into one - an irritated irate man who temporarily turned into a spoilt boy who didn't get his way :P I kid u not!
So imagine my dismay when he insisted that my poor firstborn accompanies him in his news-venture! The look on my firstborn's face said it all - disbelief, dismay and resigned to "fate". She knows that protest is futile and any sounds of unwillingness will only make him more insistent so she acceded, not willingly of course :( My thoughts then, "Aiyoh, my poor dear, she is too young for this!" Talking with my hubby is fruitless. He insisted on it and said that it is important for her to know the world, be aware of her environment and the things happening so that she is more knowledgeable and not just "死读书" Sighs, how to argue with that?!
Fast forward to 4 years on, I am glad he did so! Yes, you read me right! My firstborn has a decent grasp of general knowledge, some brief knowledge of history as she asks if she don't understand why this or that happens and the best of all, her awareness improved by leaps and bounds!
A couple of months ago, we were at an extended family gathering where my aunts were talking about going Thailand for a short trip. My firstborn quipped that they shouldn't go then as it will not be safe. Puzzled, my aunts asked, how so? My girl told them matter-of-factly "Thailand now having elections. With their government unstable, its dangerous to go cos they always have strikes then if kena strike at airport again then u all no flights to come home." The complete silence that ensued was priceless! My aunts, were completely stunned at that information coming from a mere 10 years old! When asked how she knows, she simply answered "I watch news and my Daddy said it not safe to go Thailand now."
Another incident recently validated the importance of this yet again. With the introduction of Pioneer Generation card, my dad wanted to know more. As he is Chinese educated, he found it hard to completely understand the ins and outs of this package. Imagine my amazement when my mum told me one day that my firstborn had sat down with my dad and explained everything in detail to him! When my mum ask her how she knows, she said that some information were from the song that was sang on TV, others were from news where they had explained.
On hindsight, though I hate to admit, my hubby was right from 4 years back. His insistence of making her sit through the news are bearing fruits now. My girl is not a kid who has no knowledge of the world or surroundings, she is neither just a bookworm nor a student who only studies. She may not make super good grades at school but she is well aware of the environment and happenings around her. She is able to relate, has a good sense of history and understands more of the world out there. She is a good all-rounder! And I am so proud to be able to say so!
Perhaps you think it may be too young for your kids, or that they may not be interested or it may be too hard for them to understand etc. It may still be good to cultivate a starting point, an introduction of sorts so that they aren't completely unaware, they have an inkling of what is happening. My hubby often talk such happenings with her in the car asking for her opinion on what has happened or what she think may happen next. Not only it gives them a chance to bond, it also cements her information and knowledge. Though my firstborn will not switch on the news to watch on her own, but she now willingly sits down and watches it, asking questions along the way and expressing her opinions.
If you think that the current news format is too mature, maybe you could try out some of these links or publications where news are written for kids in a format that they could easily understand or digest.
http://www.newsforkids.com.sg/
http://www.timeforkids.com/news 
My firstborn recently attended a short holiday course. It was the "Little Reporters" organized by Singapore Media Academy. They learnt methods of getting information, organizing them, reporting skills etc. Apart from learning all these from a real life news presenter, they even had a chance to do a short excerpt of news presenting and this is recorded! You will get a copy of the recording at the end of the course :) It was a fun way to learn important yet dry skills like sifting and organizing information, summarizing and presentation, for more information, you can visit http://www.mediaacademy.sg/page/holiday-courses/little-reporters
So, time to watch the news ? :)
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