Several members of the Parents' Council recently met with Spokesman-Review Editor Steve Smith to talk about how news decisions are made and how they affect kids today.

After the meeting, during which Smith explained the newspaper's values that drive news decisions daily, the moms who attended the meeting (dads, where are you?) began a discussion about how parents can manage (or moderate) the media's influence on kids. Several studies have shown that exposure to news can cause anxiety among children, and that parents must be diligent in monitoring the effects on their kids.

Members briefly discussed putting newspapers with disturbing news and/or images out of reach of young kids or turning the TV news channel quickly when scary news flashes across the screen to using the media as a resource for discussion about stranger dangers, good and bad decisions and values.

One thing the group concluded was this warranted further discussion on this blog. The world is a pretty scary, uncertain place right now. War, natural disasters and various dangers are reported daily through multiple media sources.

So... what do you do to manage or moderate the effect news has on your kids?

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