Landen Jacob Reitmeyer Thesis

My son, Landen Jacob Reitmeyer, will be twenty-one months old next month on December 12. Ever since he was a baby, the only show I could get him to watch and would calm him down is Barney. It was the only show that had bright colors and loud music, used in ways that would really catch his attention, which it still does to this day. As Calvert (2008) observed these "attention getting production features are designed to attract children's interest in commercial content" (p.205). As soon as Landen hears the beginning theme song, he stops what he's doing and finds the television. It just amazed me how excited one little child could get over a show. When it came time to plan his first birthday party, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I searched…show more content…
He starts clapping and jumping up and down screaming, "Baaaneeyyy". Anderson (2006) claimed that young children have a difficult time telling the difference between fantasy and reality, they are highly susceptible to the socializing effects of television, especially those shows on children's television channels and animated programs (p. 287). I am so pleased to see how happy Landen is. He even knows what remotes he needs to turn on Barney. When he is ready to watch Barney, he will grab the remotes and bring them to me. Landen has learned so much from watching this show. He picks up so many different words, colors, dances, and songs. He can basically carry on a conversation with me, it makes me sad because he has grown up so fast. Landen has at least thirty Barney DVDs, recordings on DVR, plus he watches episodes on Netflix. The benefits are clear to me. As Anderson, Kirkorian and Wartella (2008) stated "although research clearly demonstrates that well-designed, age-appropriate, educational television can be beneficial to children of preschool age studies on infants and toddlers suggest that these young children may better understand and learn from real-life experiences than they do from video". It still amazes me at the little things that could bring such an amazing innocent smile to such a bright child's…show more content…
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Anderson, D.R., Kirkorian, H.L., Wartella, E.A. (2008). Media and young children's learning. The Future of Children, 18(1), 39+.
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Clancy, S., Lambert, E.B. (2004). Children's animated TV programs: A content analysis. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 29(2), 19+.
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Wilson, B.J., (2008). Media and Children's Aggression, fear and altruism. The Future of Children, 18(1),